Bristol Proposes UK-First City-Wide Music Levy to Support Local Industry

Bristol aims to become the first city in the United Kingdom to implement a ticket levy, following the presentation of its proposals to the local music industry by city leaders. This initiative emerges amid a significant financial downturn in the music sector, which saw 125 independent venues nationwide close their doors in 2023. Carly Heath, Bristol’s night time economy advisor, stated that a 1% charge applied to tickets at participating venues and events could generate up to £1 million annually. Ms. Heath remarked, “That would transform the music industry in the city,” clarifying that the funds would be used to support “music venues, events and music making.” Ms. Heath also highlighted that the reduction in rates relief for venues, from 75% to 40% in the upcoming budget, would “add in loads of extra costs” for these establishments. However, she noted that music enthusiasts were “happy to support” the local scene, citing a survey conducted by Bristol Nights, a council-managed project focused on the ticket levy, which indicated 93% of local residents were in favor of the proposal. On Wednesday evening, the council presented its plans to both local and national representatives from the music industry. Tom Kiehl, the CEO of UK Music, suggested that this model could serve as an inspiration for other cities to adopt similar schemes. “There’s a big discussion at the moment in the industry about whether arena and stadiums can agree a levy to support the grassroots in the sector. Those conversations are ongoing, so its actually really interesting to see a really positive local solution being developed in this area,” he commented. Glasgow is also exploring the introduction of a ticket levy, and a smaller-scale version of such a scheme already operates in Halifax, where ticket sales for The Piece Hall, an outdoor venue capable of hosting up to 6,000 people, contribute to subsidizing five other, smaller venues. The proposed Bristol Music Fund would be managed by a community benefit society, responsible for distributing the money as grants to those in need. Heidi Wort, director and bookings manager of the Bristol music venue Exchange, indicated that they “probably will” opt into the scheme. “I know that it’s tough, everyone’s asking for more money at the moment, but I would ask that the ticket public to really think about the transparency of this fund and where this money is going and hopefully really buy into it because I think it could make a big difference.” Sarah Clayton from the Bristol band Life in Mono described the creation of a local fund as “a brilliant idea,” explaining that with national grants, artists face competition from “every other artist nationally that’s applied for that grant.” Her bandmate, Adam Darroch-Thompson, observed: “There’s very few [venues] that can really give you any kind of financial reward for playing.” While he supports the ticket levy scheme, he pointed out that music fans who purchase tickets and merchandise are already “putting loads of money into the music system.” “I think [the ticket levy] is a really great idea to try and support small musicians, small venues… but ultimately I don’t think it should be put on the consumer, who are the people who are already coming to the shows, to create that money.” A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport stated: “The Culture Secretary has committed to work closely with stakeholders and across government to support an economically sustainable grassroots music sector.” “We want a live music sector that nurtures the next generation of British talent and we are extending Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music Fund.”