A “once in a generation” opportunity to revive Britain’s dying grassroots music venue scene must be seized by political parties vying to be elected at the forthcoming General Election to save the sector from extinction.
The Music Venue Trust today (Tue) publishes a report urging leaders to “seize the moment” by adopting key demands of their ‘A Manifesto for Grassroots Music’, which sets out the urgent action steps needed to be taken in order to stem the current closure rate of one venue a week.
The report, which is being sent to every prospective MP across the country, emphasises the need to implement the recent Culture Media & Sport Select Committee recommendations for the wider live music industry to invest in the future of grassroots music via a contribution of £1 from every arena and stadium ticket sold for events over a 5000 capacity – something the Daily Express’ Strike A Chord crusade has championed.
There are also calls for the abolition of VAT on grassroots tickets and for a review of the business rates paid by venues in the sector. The report also highlights the need for a full, fan led review and the need for changes to existing planning laws.
Sophie Brownlee, External Affairs Manager at Music Venue Trust, said: “The Manifesto is being delivered to every prospective MP in the country with the request that they come out in support of it as part of their campaign to be elected. Music communities across the country will also be asking the candidates where they stand on the future of live music in our towns and cities. The time to act is now.”
In its recent report recommending the implementation of a £1 levy on arena and stadium concert tickets, the CMS select committee said, “…grassroots live music venues, the local, limited capacity venues integral to the pipeline of creative and professional talent and key fixtures of our communities, are now facing a crisis of soaring costs and closures.
Artists, and the people who rely on them for business, are facing a cost-of-touring crisis and finding opportunities squeezed. Promoters are less able to put on shows or make them financially viable. Festivals, electronic music venues and even academies and arenas are not insulated from the impacts.”
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said, “In 2023, of the 366 small music venues Ed Sheeran played while learning his trade, at least 150 are now closed. Another 72 grassroots music venues significantly reduced or ended their live music offer. 38% of GMVs in the UK made a loss in the last 12 months. The sector operated on a 0.5% profit margin overall while running live music events at a £115 million loss. All of this can be changed if the next government delivers the five simple steps we have set out in this report. We therefore call on all political representatives, from all parties, to seize the moment and drive forward this change. We have a chance to save UK grassroots music venues from the crisis they currently face and we should not let it slip.”