FAC & MU publish an open letter to the Government and UK live music industry on the "cost of touring crisis"

29 October 2024 - Press release

 

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Musicians' Union (MU) have published an open letter to the government and the UK's live music industry in response to the “cost of touring crisis” facing artists and performers. Although evident at all levels of live music, this crisis is particularly acute at grassroots shows. 

The seriousness of the situation was recognised earlier this year in a report published by the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, which agreed that artists, independent promoters and grassroots venues should all benefit from a small blanket ticket levy applied to arena and stadium events. 

The Committee’s report recommended that a voluntary levy to support grassroots live music should be introduced by September 2024. 

Unfortunately, this has failed to happen. 

Despite a small number of artists generously donating a proportion of their ticket revenue to the Music Venue Trust, we still lack a sustainable funding mechanism that could help address shortfalls in the grassroots music sector. 

A blanket levy would ensure a consistent and reliable flow of funding, and allow for a fair distribution to all relevant parties at grassroots level for the long-term future. Crucially, it would facilitate direct funding for artists in order that they can plan tours without the financial jeopardy and uncertainty that many are currently experiencing. 

Our organisations are urging the government to recognise this bigger picture in their response to the Select Committee report.  

Artists and fans are being encouraged to show their support for our open letter by signing this petition. 

Read the full open letter here.

 

David Martin: CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:
In March, I gave evidence before the Culture Select Committee, alongside Lily Fontaine from the Mercury-winning band, English Teacher. We made it clear to MPs that any solution to the ‘cost of touring crisis’ facing UK grassroots music must involve the direct funding of artists.  

The Committee agreed, and concluded that a proposed levy on arena and stadium shows must benefit artists and independent promoters - as well as grassroots venues. 

However, since the publication of their report, the FAC has become increasingly concerned about the direction of travel. Today, we call on the government to help get this conversation back on track to deliver the £1 ticket levy that grassroots live music so desperately needs. We are also asking fans, artists and the wider music industry to sign our open letter to save grassroots touring.

Kelly Wood: Head of Live, The Musicians' Union:
If artists can’t rely upon a healthy and financially viable grassroots live sector, the industry as a whole suffers. We urgently need to see the introduction of a robust and sustainable funding mechanism, allowing artists to carry out tours without significant risk. Without this kind of support, we will lose artists from the music community, and the talent pipeline will be severely disrupted.