A London-based music promoter has welcomed a proposed £1 levy on concert tickets at arenas and stadiums to go into grassroots music.
Sir Chris Bryant, from the DCMS, called on the music industry to introduce a voluntary £1 levy on ticket prices for large concerts last week.
A few music artists are already taking similar measures, including Katy Perry, who this week announced she will include an additional £1 on any tickets for her UK headline tour, which will visit London’s O2 Arena, for the benefit of the Music Venue Trust (MVT).
Coldplay, whose current ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour is the second-highest grossing ever, will visit Wembley Stadium for a ten-night residency next Autumn – seeing 10% of proceeds heading to grassroots music.
The move comes after Dame Caroline Dineage MP referred to an “urgent crisis unfolding in the live music ecosystem” in a letter to Lisa Nandy last week.
“It’s a really important move for grassroots music venues,” said Sam Bowcher, a music promoter, last night.
“I think some venues that are on the cusp of struggling or potentially going under could be saved as a result,” added Bowcher, who works in promoting artists and concerts in small, independent London venues.
Who could benefit from the proposed levy?
It is currently unclear how Bryant’s proposal could be implemented.
There are several avenues by which money raised could be distributed into the grassroots system, including the MVT and LIVE (Live music Industry Venues and Entertainment).
Artists like Debdepan and The Near Tide, who performed at the 70-capacity Katzpace in London Bridge last night, are both acts who regularly break even, and even lose money, while touring.
“The challenge is when it comes to monetising your gigs – it’s a challenge for venues, promoters but especially for artists,” explained Luke Powell, who works full-time while playing drums for alternative rock band The Near Tide.
“You have to bring 20 to 30 people to every gig, especially in London – with tickets between £6 to £12 in small venues it gets difficult. You’ve got to be in the top one of a thousand bands to be able to yourself a wage.”
Grace Bontoft, singer-songwriter in the dream pop duet Debdepan, told City News that she works four part-time jobs to support herself while touring.
“We try to make sure that, with the gigs we’re taking, we’re at least breaking even, but we don’t earn, really,” said Bontoft.
Ministers have been urged by the MVT to set a deadline for the levy’s implementation for no later than by the end of 2025.
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Headline“Struggling venues” could be saved by grassroots ticket levy
Short HeadlineTicket levy could save London's "struggling venues"
StandfirstThe proposal would see £1 added onto arena and stadium concert tickets
A London-based music promoter has welcomed a proposed £1 levy on concert tickets at arenas and stadiums to go into grassroots music.
Sir Chris Bryant, from the DCMS, called on the music industry to introduce a voluntary £1 levy on ticket prices for large concerts last week.
A few music artists are already taking similar measures, including Katy Perry, who this week announced she will include an additional £1 on any tickets for her UK headline tour, which will visit London’s O2 Arena, for the benefit of the Music Venue Trust (MVT).
Coldplay, whose current ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour is the second-highest grossing ever, will visit Wembley Stadium for a ten-night residency next Autumn – seeing 10% of proceeds heading to grassroots music.
The move comes after Dame Caroline Dineage MP referred to an “urgent crisis unfolding in the live music ecosystem” in a letter to Lisa Nandy last week.
“It’s a really important move for grassroots music venues,” said Sam Bowcher, a music promoter, last night.
“I think some venues that are on the cusp of struggling or potentially going under could be saved as a result,” added Bowcher, who works in promoting artists and concerts in small, independent London venues.
Who could benefit from the proposed levy?
It is currently unclear how Bryant’s proposal could be implemented.
There are several avenues by which money raised could be distributed into the grassroots system, including the MVT and LIVE (Live music Industry Venues and Entertainment).
Artists like Debdepan and The Near Tide, who performed at the 70-capacity Katzpace in London Bridge last night, are both acts who regularly break even, and even lose money, while touring.
“The challenge is when it comes to monetising your gigs – it’s a challenge for venues, promoters but especially for artists,” explained Luke Powell, who works full-time while playing drums for alternative rock band The Near Tide.
“You have to bring 20 to 30 people to every gig, especially in London – with tickets between £6 to £12 in small venues it gets difficult. You’ve got to be in the top one of a thousand bands to be able to yourself a wage.”
Grace Bontoft, singer-songwriter in the dream pop duet Debdepan, told City News that she works four part-time jobs to support herself while touring.
“We try to make sure that, with the gigs we’re taking, we’re at least breaking even, but we don’t earn, really,” said Bontoft.
Ministers have been urged by the MVT to set a deadline for the levy’s implementation for no later than by the end of 2025.
