UK Grassroots Music Venues in Crisis as Over a Third Report Losses
Music Venue Trust calls for industry and political support, proposes levy on ticket sales at larger venues to aid struggling grassroots venues.
- Over a third of UK grassroots music venues are loss-making, with 38% of the 835 venues reporting a loss in 2023.
- 125 grassroots music venues closed or stopped hosting live music in 2023, marking the worst year for closures in a decade.
- Rising operational costs, including rent and energy prices, are cited as major challenges for these venues.
- The Music Venue Trust (MVT) is calling for political parties to require the most successful parts of the music industry to financially support smaller venues.
- The MVT is also advocating for a levy on ticket sales at larger venues to support grassroots venues, a model similar to one established in France.
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