Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
The crisis affecting grassroots music venues and the broader live music ecosystem, including artists, promoters and festivals, is of deep concern to music lovers, local communities and all those who depend on the sector’s economic and cultural success. We also recognise and share concerns that these issues are affecting the …
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The crisis affecting grassroots music venues and the broader live music ecosystem, including artists, promoters and festivals, is of deep concern to music lovers, local communities and all those who depend on the sector’s economic and cultural success. We also recognise and share concerns that these issues are affecting the broader night-time venues that host music, including clubs and electronic music spaces. These sectors must not be allowed to continue to decline, but the current support is insufficient to prevent this.
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the report, agrees that a sustainable grassroots sector is essential, and states it will work across government to champion the sector and create appropriate fiscal and regulatory conditions, also highlighting a 'community right to buy' through the English Devolution Bill.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
We are encouraged that stakeholders across the sector are taking a levy seriously and already coming together to propose solutions in good faith. While we agree with artists and managers that a compulsory levy on arena and stadium tickets would be the fairest and most sustainable mechanism to support grassroots …
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We are encouraged that stakeholders across the sector are taking a levy seriously and already coming together to propose solutions in good faith. While we agree with artists and managers that a compulsory levy on arena and stadium tickets would be the fairest and most sustainable mechanism to support grassroots music venues without requiring downward pressures on artists’ share of revenues, we accept that the urgency of the crisis in grassroots means that a voluntary levy is the most feasible way to have an immediate impact. If the live music sector is serious about creating an effective voluntary levy, it must be equitable for all stakeholders and in place as soon as possible.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's stance that an industry-led voluntary levy is the most feasible path forward, urging the live music sector to act quickly, and offers to use its convening powers to facilitate discussions while monitoring progress.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
4
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
We recommend that the live music industry introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets no later than September 2024 to support grassroots music venues, artists and promoters.
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation for a voluntary industry levy and urges the live music sector to act swiftly, offering to use its convening powers and monitor progress.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
7
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
There is broad consensus that a charitable organisation is best placed to administer the levy funds. While Arts Council England is already well-established and well- placed to distribute funding, we accept that a trust led by a sector umbrella body, such as the LIVE Trust or Music Venues Trust, is …
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There is broad consensus that a charitable organisation is best placed to administer the levy funds. While Arts Council England is already well-established and well- placed to distribute funding, we accept that a trust led by a sector umbrella body, such as the LIVE Trust or Music Venues Trust, is the best way to collect, manage and distribute a voluntary fund. For this to succeed, we recommend that it contains Grassroots music venues 37 broad representation for all stakeholders, including venues from GMVs to arenas, artists and their business partners and national and independent promoters among its trustees. A trust must provide the utmost transparency and due diligence for its decisions to ensure it can maintain the confidence of all stakeholders within the fragile live music ecosystem. (Paragraph 50) VAT and business rate relief
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation for a charitable organization to administer the levy, welcoming LIVE's efforts and encouraging broad stakeholder representation, transparency, and due diligence in its management.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
11
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
We welcome the efforts by Arts Council England to address issues resulting from the live music sector’s ability to access public funding raised in our predecessor committee’s ‘Live music’ inquiry six years ago, and indeed grassroots music venues said that ACE funding through Covid had been a lifeline. However, we …
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We welcome the efforts by Arts Council England to address issues resulting from the live music sector’s ability to access public funding raised in our predecessor committee’s ‘Live music’ inquiry six years ago, and indeed grassroots music venues said that ACE funding through Covid had been a lifeline. However, we are concerned that perceptions and administrative burdens remain largely the same. We recommend that the Government and Arts Council work to reduce the administrative burden of applying for public funding. (Paragraph 75) Stakeholder disputes
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the challenges and states it is working closely with Arts Council England to ensure the funding application process is accessible. It appreciates ACE's ongoing efforts and encourages continued improvement.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
13
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
The comprehensive Tariff Review, due to begin in summer 2024, is a useful opportunity to consider how concerns that have been raised with us, such as litigation, the ease of navigating processes and whether a GMV-specific tariff is feasible, can be mitigated or addressed for the next period. We recommend …
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The comprehensive Tariff Review, due to begin in summer 2024, is a useful opportunity to consider how concerns that have been raised with us, such as litigation, the ease of navigating processes and whether a GMV-specific tariff is feasible, can be mitigated or addressed for the next period. We recommend that our successor committee consider progress in the next Parliament.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
14
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Acknowledged
Despite the welcome introduction of the agent of change principles, venues are still facing a widespread risk of closures due to planning and redevelopment-related issues. We recommend that the agent of change principles are put on a statutory footing at the earliest opportunity.
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Despite the welcome introduction of the agent of change principles, venues are still facing a widespread risk of closures due to planning and redevelopment-related issues. We recommend that the agent of change principles are put on a statutory footing at the earliest opportunity.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it will consider what can be done to improve the implementation of the existing agent of change requirement, rather than committing to putting the principles on a statutory footing.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport