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! ! ! D E A MANIFESTO FOR GRASS ROOTS MUSIC T N A W SOFAS & SUIT ISSUE 1577 // 26th june - 2nd july
Music Venue Trust (MVT) has called upon politicians from all parties to “seize the moment” ahead of the forthcoming UK General Election on July 4th, and to help save the sector from the deepening crisis it finds itself in. MVT has published a report entitled, ‘A Manifesto for Grassroots Music’, which sets out the steps that need to be taken in order to stem the closures of GMVs, currently running at more than one per week, and to bring stability to the sector. Calling this “a once in a generation opportunity to save the UK’s Grassroots Music Venues”, the report emphasises the need to implement the recent Culture Media &
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Sport Select Committee recommendations for the wider live music industry to invest in the future of grassroots music via a contribution of £1 from every arena and stadium ticket sold for events over a 5000 capacity. There are also calls for the abolition of VAT on GMV tickets and for a review of the business rates paid by venues in the sector. The report also highlights the need for a full, fan led review and the need for changes to existing planning laws. The five key areas highlighted in the report are: • £1 grassroots investment contribution from every arena and stadium ticket sold to support Grassroots
Music Venues, artists and promoters • A fan-led review to fully examine the long-term challenges to the live music ecosystem • The agent of change principle in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to be put on a statutory footing at the earliest opportunity • A reduction in VAT on cultural ticketing in GMVs to 0% and reduce VAT on cultural ticketing in the live music industry to the European average (5–7%) • The creation of a specific business rates premises definition for GMVs and the removal of properties satisfying that definition from the requirement to pay business rates The creation of a specific
business rates premises definition for GMVs and the removal of properties satisfying that definition from the requirement to pay business rates Sophie Brownlee, External Affairs Manager, MVT Sophie Brownlee, External Affairs Manager, MVT “The Manifesto is being delivered to every prospective MP in the country with the request that they come out in support of it as part of their campaign to be elected. Music communities across the country will also be asking the candidates where they stand on the future of live music in our towns and cities. The time to act is now.” In its recent report recommending the
implementation of a £1 levy on arena and stadium concert tickets, the CMS select committee said, “…grassroots live music venues, the local, limited capacity venues integral to the pipeline of creative and professional talent and key fixtures of our communities, are now facing a crisis of soaring costs and closures. Artists, and the people who rely on them for business, are facing a cost-oftouring crisis and finding opportunities squeezed. Promoters are less able to put on shows or make them financially viable. Festivals, electronic music venues and even academies and arenas are not insulated from the impacts.”
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