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21.05.2024 / 16:25
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Music Venue Trust announces ‘The Artist Pledge’ – calling on acts to give back when they reach arena level
full report into the state of the sector for 2023, showing the “disaster” facing live music with venues closing at a rate of around two per week.Presented at Westminster, the MVT also echoed their calls for a levy on tickets on gigs at arena size and above and for major labels and such to pay back into the grassroots scene, arguing that “the big companies are now going to have to answer for this”.Now, with today’s announcement (May 21) of ‘The Artist Pledge’, Music Venue Trust can confirm that more than 45 artists have already signed the pledge to ensure that every grassroots artist, venue, and promoter, not only survives, but thrives. These include Frank Turner, The K’s, The Luka State, Sister, Red Rum Club, Enter Shikari and more.In the campaign, MVT asks artists to pledge that they will acknowledge where they came from as they grow in success, and contribute a small amount of money back into the grassroots sector when they reach arena level.It comes following various artists like Enter Shikari recalling how playing in local venues allowed them to grow their success, and announcing details of a tour where £1 from each ticket sold was donated to the Music Venue Trust.From there, various artists and figures from the live music industry then headed to Parliament to push for a mandatory £1 ticket levy on all gigs arena-sized and above, and other artists including Alien Ant Farm and CKY pledged to help support smaller venues with their upcoming live shows.A post shared by Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust)“We are asking artists today to stand with all of us in the grassroots sector as a show of solidarity.