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Select Committee · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Grassroots music venues

Status: Closed Opened: 30 Jan 2024 Closed: 22 May 2024 12 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report

Last year, the UK experienced a net loss of 125 grassroots music venues (GMVs) across the UK, equivalent to over a tenth of the sector. GMVs are an important part of the live music ecosystem, providing a platform for up-and-coming bands and music professionals, as well as space for rehearsals, education, social programmes and other …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues HC 527 11 May 2024 16 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
2 Recommendation Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues Rejected

Launch a fan-led review of the live and electronic music ecosystem by summer 2024.

While our work has focused on immediate solutions to support grassroots music, a comprehensive review of the live music ecosystem is needed to fully explore the long-term challenges and the interventions needed to protect it. We recommend that the Government launch a fan-led review of live and electronic music in …

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for a fan-led review of live and electronic music, citing existing work on the Industrial Strategy, ticketing consultations, and work across touring and streaming.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
8 Recommendation Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues Rejected

Introduce a temporary, capacity-based VAT cut for grassroots music venues to stimulate activity.

A targeted and temporary cut to VAT for grassroots music venues on tickets would help to improve the immediate risk-profile of live music for promoters and in-house programmers, who take on the financial risk, and help get more shows into venues. The Government should introduce a temporary cut to VAT, …

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for a temporary VAT cut, citing economic and fiscal stability and the broad-based nature of VAT. It notes existing funding for the grassroots music sector.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9 Recommendation Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues Rejected

Undertake comprehensive economic analysis of VAT cut impact on live music, modelling different approaches.

We recognise that live music is one of many sectors calling for special treatment for VAT, and that the case for a long-term or permanent exemption requires a stronger evidence base for its economic impact than currently exists. We recommend that the Treasury and DCMS undertake a comprehensive economic analysis …

Government response. The government rejects the recommendation, stating it has no plans to introduce a temporary VAT cut or undertake a bespoke economic analysis of the impact of a VAT cut to 10% on tickets.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
26 Mar 2024 Anna Moulson · Association of Independent Promoters, David Martin · Featured Artists Coalition, Gavin Larkins · PRS for Music, John Drury · National Arenas Association, Jon Collins · LIVE, Kwame Kwaten · Music Managers Forum, Lily Fontaine, Mark Davyd · Music Venue Trust, Stuart Galbraith · Concert Promoters Association View ↗