UK government approve voluntary levy on arena concert tickets to help support grassroots venues
The government have announced plans for a voluntary levy on tickets to concerts at stadiums and arenas, which will be introduced by 2025, in order to help fund grassroots venues.
“Ministers have made clear that they want to see a voluntary levy come into effect as soon as possible for concerts in 2025, with clear communication to fans on the purpose of the levy and the benefits it will bring to the grassroots sector,” said a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
"Without healthy roots, the entire live music ecosystem suffers, so it is vital that the wider industry recognises the urgency of coming up with a scheme to direct a proportion of profits back to where many careers began".
Light at the end of the tunnel for Grassroots Music Venues. People who say it can’t be done should get out of the way of people doing it.
— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) November 14, 2024
Read our statement in full: https://t.co/eqY1blNXBy
More resources on this via: https://t.co/Q2lGy05wwp pic.twitter.com/TauMAkq9cm
Musicians such as Sam Fender, and Enter Shikari, who are at the level of regularly performing in arenas and stadiums have already been trying to help protect grassroots venues by donating £1 from every ticket sales to Music Venue Trust, meanwhile, Coldplay pledged to donate 10% of profits from their upcoming UK stadium tour to support smaller venues.
"Without a flourishing grassroots music industry the rest of our music industry will wither," said creative industries minister Sir Chris Bryant. "That is why I am urging the industry voluntarily to introduce a ticket levy on the biggest commercial players, to help ensure the health and future success of our entire live music industry for decades to come."
The full Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music venues can be found here.
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