Grassroots music venues: Government responds to CMS Committee calls for voluntary levy timetable
9 December 2024
The Government has said that the music industry must make real progress by March on implementing a voluntary levy on arena and stadium concert tickets to support grassroots music, after the CMS Committee called for clarity on how long the industry has to take action before Ministers step in.
- Culture, Media and Sport Committee
- Read the report
- Read the Government response
- Read the letter from the CMS Committee, dated 14 November
- Read the response form the Government, dated 27 November
The Committee wrote to DCMS last month to welcome Government backing for a voluntary levy scheme as recommended by the previous committee in the last parliament, but called for a clear deadline for the industry to act.
In the response to the Committee’s letter published today, Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant says that the Government wants to see ‘tangible progress’ by the first quarter of next year to meet the timeline of a levy coming in as soon as possible for concerts in 2025. He also announced that he will hold a ministerial roundtable before Christmas with live music representatives to drive progress.
The Committee itself will be holding a hearing with the sector in the middle of next year should no significant progress on a voluntary levy be made.
Chair comment
Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said:
“This welcome push from the Government in response to the Committee’s concerns should help focus the minds of the big players in the music industry on the urgency of taking action to support our grassroots music sector. The ball is now very firmly in their court and we will continue to keep a very close eye on progress.”
Further information
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