Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Seventh Report - Grassroots music venues
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
HC 527
Published 11 May 2024
Recommendations
4
Acknowledged
Para 41
Introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets by September 2024 to support grassroots venues.
Recommendation
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 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.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7
Acknowledged
Ensure broad representation and utmost transparency for the charitable trust administering live music levy funds.
Recommendation
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, …
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Government Response 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.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11
Acknowledged
Reduce administrative burden for live music sector when applying for public funding.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13
Acknowledged
Para 89
Instruct successor committee to monitor progress of PRS for Music's Tariff Review.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
The government restates the recommendation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14
Acknowledged
Para 95
Place agent of change principles on a statutory footing at the earliest opportunity.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Conclusions (2)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 19
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 …
Government Response 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.
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 40
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 …
Government Response 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.