UK government reveals deadline for music industry to respond to ticket levy to save the grassroots

nme.com:

joined the call for a levy on arena and stadium gigs – as well as a cut in VAT – to support struggling grassroots music venues and artists.

Though The Culture, Media and Sport Committee welcomed the UK government’s new backing of a levy on gigs at arena level and above to help save the grassroots music scene, they called for a clear deadline for the industry to take urgent action.Now, in a letter published today in response to the questions posed by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Sir Chris Bryant MP – Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries – wrote: “We want to see a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets come into effect as soon as possible for concerts in 2025.

To meet this timeline, we want to see tangible progress across the music industry by the first quarter of 2025,” meaning that the music industry must make real progress by March.He continued, highlighting the leadership shown by the likes of Coldplay, Sam Fender and Katy Perry who have all vowed to donate “a proportion of their upcoming tour revenues to support the grassroots sector.” The news of these artist donating a portion of revenue from their tour comes after 2023 proved to be “disastrous” and the worst year on record with 125 grassroots music venues shutting their doors – a rate of two per week.Bryant also announced that he will hold a ministerial roundtable before Christmas with live music representatives to drive progress.

The Committee itself will be holding a hearing with the sector in the middle of next year should no significant progress on a voluntary levy be made.Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “This welcome push from the Government in response to the Committee’s concerns should help.