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MPs call for levy on arena concert tickets to raise funds for struggling small venues

Trade bodies welcome proposal from cross-party culture committee that would prop up grassroots gig venues without passing cost to consumers

A group of MPs are calling for a ticket levy on concerts at UK arenas and stadiums to raise funds for grassroots venues that are struggling with rising costs and the risk of closure. Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the cross-party select committee, said: “If the grassroots, where musicians, technicians, tour managers and promoters hone their craft, are allowed to wither and die, the UK’s position as a music powerhouse faces a bleak future. The proposals mark a turnaround from last year, when John Whittingdale, Conservative MP and former culture secretary, said in November during a discussion on aid for the sector: “We have no plans to impose a ticket levy.”

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