Three ways to safeguard UK live music

The UK live music scene is under threat

Live music is at the heart of the UK’s thriving music scene. It builds and sustains musicians’ careers, contributes almost £1 billion to the economy and, most importantly, entertains music lovers around the country.

However, there are concerns that the live music success story is under threat.

There are problems with the resale of tickets, music venues around the country closing down, and a lack of training or funding for the next generation of musical talent. These all risk stifling this internationally-renowned industry.

We launched an inquiry into live music

In early 2018, the 11 MPs of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee launched an inquiry into live music.

We wanted to understand more about the challenges facing the industry and what needs to be done to support it. To do so, we heard from artists, promoters, venue operators and industry bodies. 

Three ways to safeguard live music

Our report makes the case for Government and local authorities to take specific steps to help fans, artists and venues, but recognises that large companies also have a responsibility to support the grassroots that they will ultimately profit from.

Here are three of our key recommendations we are making to the Government.

Music fans shared their frustration at buying tickets on resale sites and then feeling misled or ripped-off. Recent changes in the ticketing market and action by regulators have led to improvements; however, problems remain.

The Government needs to ensure existing legislation is robustly enforced — especially against viagogo. Our report recommends that the Competition and Markets Authority “acts promptly and decisively to bring viagogo into line with consumer law and, until it does so, we advise the public not to buy or sell tickets via viagogo.”

Grassroots music venues — often smaller, unsubsidised spaces that host up-and-coming bands — face many challenges. In recent years, many iconic venues around the country have closed, and those that remain struggle to stay afloat.

We recommend that the Government reviews business rates for live music venues. We also make the case for local and funding bodies to develop strategies aimed at supporting music venues by listening to their concerns.

A career in music is an exciting proposition and there is a vast range of jobs available to those with a passion for it. We recommend that the music curriculum reflects the range of jobs in the industry so that the next generation of musicians and technicians have the skills it needs. The Government and industry also need to think collaboratively about how to support musicians in making a living from touring, especially after Britain leaves the European Union.

The Government must now respond to our report

We are giving these recommendations to the Government as the DCMS Committee, 11 MPs from different political parties.

The Government has two months to respond to our report. To read more depth and detail about our recommendations, read our report on Live Music and find out more about this inquiry on our website.

If you're interested in the work of our committee, find out more about our other inquiries.