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Concert arenas urged to add £1 ticket levy to help small UK venues

Industry leaders say crisis-hit grassroots spaces are struggling to stay open as costs rise

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee heard from promoters, artists and representatives from industry bodies, nearly all of whom backed the call for a levy to be placed on tickets, which would then be distributed to smaller venues, 125 of which were forced to shut during 2023. Drury told the committee that the “ Enter Shikari model ” – the band that donated £1 from every ticket sold to their OVO Arena Wembley show in February 2024 – would be the NAA members’ favoured approach to relieving pressure on grassroots venues. The warnings about small venues come on the same day research commissioned by the British Academy suggests that live performing arts could face “existential threat from a range of potential global shocks” unless they become more resilient.

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