How can the Government support grassroots music venues?

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hold a session as part of a short inquiry into the ongoing crisis facing grassroots music venues (GMVs).  

Last year, 125 GMVs across the UK closed, equivalent to over a tenth of the industry. The inquiry aims to explore the specific issues facing GMVs and how to prevent further venue closures.  

In the first part of the session, the cross-party committee will question representatives of live music venues and organisations. MPs may seek to establish the scale and urgency of the GMV crisis, as well as the panel’s views on current Government support, including extended business rate relief and support from Arts Council England (ACE). Questions could also focus on a possible levy on arena and stadium tickets sales, which would be used to support GMVs.  

MPs will then hear from promoters and PRS for Music, an organisation which manages rights and collects revenues for artists. Questions could gauge the live music ecosystem, from local authorities to promoters, and whether witnesses support a proposed arena and stadium levy. Members are likely to explore calls from the sector for the Government to reduce VAT on live event tickets, as it did during the pandemic, and ACE funding. 

The third panel will feature artists and artist businesses. Members could discuss the importance of GMVs for upcoming artists and revenues, a cost-of-touring crisis for artists and venues’ commissions on merchandise sales.  

Witnesses:  

From 10:00am: 

·       Jon Collins, Chief Executive at LIVE 

·       Mark Davyd, Chief Executive at Music Venue Trust 

·       John Drury, Chair at National Arenas Association, and Vice-President and General Manager at OVO Arena Wembley 

From 10:45am:  

·       Stuart Galbraith, Vice-Chair at Concert Promoters Association, and Chief Executive at Kilimanjaro Live 

·       Gavin Larkins, Head of Commercial Partnerships at PRS for Music 

·       Anna Moulson, Co-Chair at Association of Independent Promoters 

From 11:30am:  

·       Lily Fontaine, singer-songwriter and vocalist of ‘English Teacher’ 

·       Kwame Kwaten, Vice Chair at Music Managers Forum 

·       David Martin, Chief Executive at Featured Artists Coalition