LIVE CEO Jon Collins shares further progress of grassroots ticketing levy

In a recent interview with Mark Sutherland, LIVE’s CEO Jon Collins revealed the progress already made by the grassroots ticketing levy. At the end of April, the LIVE Trust announced reaching £500,000 in voluntary ticketing pledges from major touring artists. The current total stands at £720,000, and as the weeks pass, should creep closer to £1 million. The Trust will collect the pledges through £1 donations from every ticket sold for shows at venues exceeding a 5000 capacity and is led by participating artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mumford & Sons, Diana Ross and Pulp.

Jon Collins explained that the purpose of the levy is to mitigate risks faced by the grassroots music sector, with the aim of preventing grassroots venues from closing. LIVE Trust will also be funding schemes, which will endeavour to allow artists to perform in different parts of the UK, not simply London, Manchester and Glasgow on ‘national’ tours. Furthermore, the donations will support young promoters and allow them to take greater risks when putting on shows.

Currently, many grassroots gigs face cancellation due to limited advance ticket sales, as attendees prefer to buy tickets at the door following the pandemic. LIVE aims to ensure concerts go ahead regardless by providing a financial cushion.

The first contributing shows will take place this June. With the trickling nature of tour revenues, it’s likely the donations will reach the Trust slowly. Nevertheless, Jon Collins proposes the first round of funding will take place at the end of this year. After the first round’s release, the voluntary ticketing levy will likely gain further momentum. Once artists and their teams can see the wider impact of the donation,  participation may increase. Eventually, LIVE Trust aspires to annually donate multimillions to the grassroots music sector.

The Labour government have promised to enforce a statutory levy should the music industry not make satisfactory efforts to support the grassroots. While the this political commitment to support the music industry is progressive, LIVE insists that the levy remains voluntary to maintain industry control, rationalising that keeping the funds in the hands of carefully appointed trustees is more likely to maximise their impact.

You can listen to the entire interview with Jon Collins here.