Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced ‘The Artist Pledge’ – a campaign that calls upon acts to give back and support grassroots venues when they reach arena level.
News of the pledge comes following the MVT delivering their full report into the state of the sector for 2023, showing the “disaster” facing live music with venues closing at a rate of around two per week.
Presented at Westminster, the MVT also echoed their calls for a levy on tickets on gigs at arena size and above and for major labels and such to pay back into the grassroots scene, arguing that “the big companies are now going to have to answer for this”.
Now, with today’s announcement (May 21) of ‘The Artist Pledge’, Music Venue Trust can confirm that more than 45 artists have already signed the pledge to ensure that every grassroots artist, venue, and promoter, not only survives, but thrives. These include Frank Turner, The K’s, The Luka State, Sister, Red Rum Club, Enter Shikari and more.
In the campaign, MVT asks artists to pledge that they will acknowledge where they came from as they grow in success, and contribute a small amount of money back into the grassroots sector when they reach arena level.
It comes following various artists like Enter Shikari recalling how playing in local venues allowed them to grow their success, and announcing details of a tour where £1 from each ticket sold was donated to the Music Venue Trust.
From there, various artists and figures from the live music industry then headed to Parliament to push for a mandatory £1 ticket levy on all gigs arena-sized and above, and other artists including Alien Ant Farm and CKY pledged to help support smaller venues with their upcoming live shows.
“We are asking artists today to stand with all of us in the grassroots sector as a show of solidarity. We are asking for a commitment that when you reach a point in your career when you can insist on change, you will demand that change,” said MVT’s Toni Coe-Brooker of the ‘Artist Pledge’ initiative.
“We want you to be clear, now, at this stage in your career that when you reach the arena and stadium level, you will expect everyone working for and with you – your manager, agent, promoter, the venue itself – to find a way to send financial support back down the pipeline.”
The Luka State, who have signed the pledge also shared: “We would be nothing without the support of the venues and promoters of the hundreds of sweaty gigs we did to hone our sound. This year we are touring some of the country’s finest grassroots music venues. If (when!) we get to the point of playing arenas, we will make sure that those gigs financially support the grassroots that helped us get there.”
Finally, Sister shared a similar sentiment, recalling how artists have a level of responsibility when it comes to protecting local venues. “We support this campaign to ensure that we all take responsibility for protecting the grassroots music ecosystem,” they said. “We understand how important grassroots music venues are – Amersham Arms was an important part in our journey as a band. Live music is everything and we have to keep it alive, now and for future generations!”
In a bid to bring more attention to the rapid decline of the grassroots music sector, various artists and figures from the music industry spoke to NME earlier this month, as a government committee of UK MPs joined the call for a levy on arena and stadium gigs – as well as a cut in VAT – to support struggling grassroots music venues and artists.
“We are grateful to the many dedicated local venues who gave up their time to take part in our inquiry,” said Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. “They delivered the message loud and clear that grassroots music venues are in crisis. The ongoing wave of closures is not just a disaster for music, performers and supporters in local communities up and down the country, but also puts at risk the entire live music ecosystem.
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“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.”
Among the key findings into 2023 being the “most challenging year”, it has been reported that 125 UK venues abandoned live music and over half of them had shut entirely – including the legendary Moles in Bath. Some of the more pressing constraints were reported as soaring energy prices, landlords increasing rate amounts, supply costs, business rates, licensing issues, noise complaints and the continuing shockwaves of COVID-19.
You can find out more about the campaign and sign the pledge here.
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