The Music Venue Trust (MVT) is pushing a grassroots levy that would allocate a portion of gross revenue from large concerts back to grassroots music venues (GMVs) to cover venue costs and guarantee artist fees, with government intervention on the table if the levy funds do not materialize by mid-2026.

The full Annual Report is available online, alongside related commentary, including a podcast and remarks from Glenn Tilbrook about venue decline and the need for action.

The number of grassroots venues edged down to 801 in 2025 from 810 in 2024, with a 1.2% annual decline—the slowest rate since 2018.

Despite struggles, the sector shows signs of stabilization as closures slow and some new venues open or reopen.

The report’s launch at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London brought the sector’s crisis to policymakers and the public.

New initiatives including Venue MOT, Off The Grid, Stay The Night, and Raise The Standard, along with the Liveline project with Save Our Scene and the Association Of Independent Promoters, aim to reduce financial exposure for promoters.

The piece frames the situation as a survival crisis for grassroots venues, not nostalgia, calling for immediate action to preserve the UK’s live music future.

Leaders led by Mark Davyd emphasize rebuilding grassroots touring networks, restoring infrastructure for music careers, and treating grassroots venues as essential national infrastructure.

Davyd warns that if voluntary industry action fails by June 2026, government-led structural reform or legislation may be required to protect grassroots venues.

Rising living costs and touring expenses, including transport and higher arena prices, are shrinking fans’ cultural spending and undermining venue sustainability.

The touring network is retreating to a few urban hubs, leaving many communities outside these centers deprived of economic and cultural opportunities.

Local venues report that competition from pricier arena shows compounds financial pressures, further challenging the viability of smaller acts.