Music bodies reignite call for live music levy

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Musicians’ Union (MU) have penned an open letter calling for the government to implement a statutory levy on area-level gig ticket sales.

In the letter, the coalition welcomes the findings of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s inquiry into grassroots music and backs its key recommendation of introducing an area-level levy to raise funds that are reinvested into artists, promoters and venues at grassroots level.

The committee’s report called for the levy to be introduced by September and with the deadline passed, FAC and MU’s letter calls the music industry’s direction of travel since the publication of the report “a cause of alarm”.

“We are concerned about the industry’s ability to enact the mechanism voluntarily. In its absence, donations made by arena-level artists won’t necessarily lead to direct funding opportunities for artists performing at grassroots level,” the letter reads. 

“Therefore, we believe that the government should retain the option to intervene and implement a statutory levy. Our organisations will campaign to bring forward such steps if necessary.”

The two organisations add that without a ticket levy benefiting the entire grassroots sector, there is risk of “irreparable harm” to British music.

Artists, fans and the wider music industry are being encouraged to voice support for the motion by signing a petition.

In September, Coldplay announced 10% of the proceeds from their next UK stadium tour will be donated to Music Venue Trust to go towards supporting grassroots music venues.