Arena ticket levy will 'make a huge difference'

"Without the grassroots venues, people don't end up playing Glastonbury, The Albert Hall, the 02," said Lotte Lyster

A recommendation by MPs to place a ticket levy on stadium and arena concert tickets to hand out to smaller venues will "make a huge difference", campaigners say.

The Music Venue Trust (MVT) and Save Our Scene (SOS) have been calling for the £1 levy to subsidise the pubs and clubs where many headline acts start out.

"It's the best news we've had since starting out," said George Fleming, the founder of SOS.

Lotte Lyster, who runs the Prince Albert in Stroud, Gloucestershire, added: "If there aren't places like us, there won't be the artists to pay the larger venues."

Save Our Scene is also hosting events around the country to raise money for its Pipeline Investment Fund

In the report, published on 11 May, the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport committee also suggested a cut in VAT to help grassroots venues.

"We really need to help each other and support the venues and the musicians and all the people that work in our business," added Ms Lyster, who supports the recommendations.

"Otherwise it's just not going to be here."

In 2023, more than 120 independent music venues closed, including the iconic Moles in Bath.

A report by the MVT found the remaining are making an average of just 0.5% profit.

"Last year was the worst year on record for venue closures in the UK. However, it was the best year on record for the commercial end of the industry," explained Mr Fleming.

He said he was "really, really happy" that MPs had listened to them.

"It's been suggested that this could raise up to £30m per annum," he said.

"If that was in place last year, we may not have seen any of those venue closures. So we really do think it's going to make a huge difference."

Save Our Scene hosted an event in Bristol last month with Nia Archives, which raised £10,000 for the local scene

Ms Lyster is worried that without the new levy, fewer and fewer venues will be able to support up-and-coming artists, explaining her business had "such a hammering" after the pandemic.

She said they were having to cancel gigs that do not sell many tickets, leaving it harder to "take a risk" on an act.

"It's the only way to do it so it's financially viable for everybody," she said.

"It's quite sad, but we've got to be realistic because if places like Moles can't survive then it's a real warning to the rest of us."

"Its been infuriating seeing lots of articles about record profits for companies like Ticketmaster selling shows to shows like Taylor Swift," said Tristan Shaw

Those working the grassroots industry said it is not just the venue owners who are being impacted financially.

Tristan Shaw, a DJ and promoter who puts on ticketed events in venues around Bristol, said it feels "awful" that he can no longer make enough money to live on after seven years working full-time in the industry.

"We need as much support as possible," he said.

"Last year was by far the biggest year of my career, but the sad juxtaposition is I can't actually afford to do it any more.

"My wages, no matter how hard I work, can't seem to rise quicker than inflation.

"To then realise that after all your hard work was just so gutting."

'Light at the end of the tunnel'

Mr Fleming said he feels like "there is finally light at the end of the tunnel" and he hopes the ticket levy will "create a sustainable ecosystem for our grassroots venues".

The committee said if the commercial end of the live music industry does not reach an agreement for a subsidy by September, the government should intervene to make it a legal requirement.