Grassroots music venues

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 30 Jan 2024 Closed: 22 May 2024 Parliament page
Last year, the UK experienced a net loss of 125 grassroots music venues (GMVs) across the UK, equivalent to over a tenth of the sector. GMVs are an important part of the live music ecosystem, providing a platform for up-and-coming bands and music professionals, as well as space for rehearsals, … Read more
12 Recommendations
4 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Event
Activity timeline 3 events
14 Nov
2024
Report published
11 May
2024
Report published
26 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
26 Mar 2024
View on parliament.uk
Anna Moulson · Association of Independent Promoters David Martin · Featured Artists Coalition Gavin Larkins · PRS for Music John Drury · National Arenas Association Jon Collins · LIVE Kwame Kwaten · Music Managers Forum Lily Fontaine Mark Davyd · Music Venue Trust Stuart Galbraith · Concert Promoters Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues HC 527 11 May 2024 16 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
1 Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Grassroots music venues and the live music ecosystem face a deep crisis of decline.
The crisis affecting grassroots music venues and the broader live music ecosystem, including artists, promoters and festivals, is of deep concern to music lovers, local communities and all those who depend on the sector’s economic and cultural success. We also … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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2 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Launch a fan-led review of the live and electronic music ecosystem by summer 2024.
While our work has focused on immediate solutions to support grassroots music, a comprehensive review of the live music ecosystem is needed to fully explore the long-term challenges and the interventions needed to protect it. We recommend that the Government … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3 Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets offers a feasible immediate solution for grassroots music.
We are encouraged that stakeholders across the sector are taking a levy seriously and already coming together to propose solutions in good faith. While we agree with artists and managers that a compulsory levy on arena and stadium tickets would … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets by September 2024 to support grassroots venues.
We recommend that the live music industry introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets no later than September 2024 to support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Publish an assessment of the voluntary levy's effectiveness on grassroots music venues within 12 months.
We further recommend that the Government should undertake and publish an assessment of the effectiveness of the voluntary levy on grassroots music venues no later than 12 months after its establishment.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Introduce a statutory levy if the voluntary scheme fails to support grassroots music venues.
If a voluntary levy is unable to be agreed by September 2024, or if the assessment of the voluntary levy concludes it is not collecting the income required to support the GMV sector, the Government should introduce a statutory levy … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Ensure broad representation and utmost transparency for the charitable trust administering live music levy funds.
There is broad consensus that a charitable organisation is best placed to administer the levy funds. While Arts Council England is already well-established and well- placed to distribute funding, we accept that a trust led by a sector umbrella body, … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Introduce a temporary, capacity-based VAT cut for grassroots music venues to stimulate activity.
A targeted and temporary cut to VAT for grassroots music venues on tickets would help to improve the immediate risk-profile of live music for promoters and in-house programmers, who take on the financial risk, and help get more shows into … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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9 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Undertake comprehensive economic analysis of VAT cut impact on live music, modelling different approaches.
We recognise that live music is one of many sectors calling for special treatment for VAT, and that the case for a long-term or permanent exemption requires a stronger evidence base for its economic impact than currently exists. We recommend … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Ensure future fiscal policy provides long-term certainty for GMVs, tapering any business rates relief reduction.
We welcome the Government’s decision to extend business rates relief for grassroots music venues until the end of the 24/25 billing year. However, while we understand that the conventions around Budget announcements are well-established, this continued uncertainty creates a new … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Reduce administrative burden for live music sector when applying for public funding.
We welcome the efforts by Arts Council England to address issues resulting from the live music sector’s ability to access public funding raised in our predecessor committee’s ‘Live music’ inquiry six years ago, and indeed grassroots music venues said that … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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12 Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Frustrations persist regarding PRS for Music fees, necessitating fair tariffs for licensees.
We recognise that, in the current economic context and amidst a closure crisis, there are frustrations among venue operators and promoters with PRS for Music’s 38 Grassroots music venues fees and processes regarding licensing. We also recognise that PRS for … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Instruct successor committee to monitor progress of PRS for Music's Tariff Review.
The comprehensive Tariff Review, due to begin in summer 2024, is a useful opportunity to consider how concerns that have been raised with us, such as litigation, the ease of navigating processes and whether a GMV-specific tariff is feasible, can … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Place agent of change principles on a statutory footing at the earliest opportunity.
Despite the welcome introduction of the agent of change principles, venues are still facing a widespread risk of closures due to planning and redevelopment-related issues. We recommend that the agent of change principles are put on a statutory footing at … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Merchandise revenues are crucial for artists' livelihoods, with GMVs committed to artist retention.
As the costs of touring have mounted and opportunities to perform live are becoming squeezed, merchandise revenues are increasingly important to sustain the livelihood of professional artists and their business partners. We welcome that grassroots music venues are committed to … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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16 Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music …
Urge all live music venues and trade bodies to follow FAC merchandise principles.
We support the Featured Artists’ Coalition’s campaign for an end to punitive fees and its four principles on merchandise commissions, particularly given the current economic environment in which artists are trying to make a living. We call on all venues … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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