Ticketmaster’s £60,000 donation to the Music Venue Trust (MVT) has been warmly received by the UK charity, marking another step in its ongoing effort to safeguard grassroots music venues (GMVs). This contribution, raised through Ticketmaster’s optional fan donation scheme, underscores the vital role of community-driven funding in sustaining the UK’s live music ecosystem.
Under this scheme, fans have the opportunity to donate while purchasing tickets, with Ticketmaster matching each pound contributed. Over the past two years, the initiative has raised £150,000, providing crucial support to the MVT’s Pipeline Investment Fund. Established in 2022, the fund aids UK-based GMVs, artists, and promoters, with over £500,000 already allocated to venue infrastructure improvements.
We recently launched our new major funding initiative, The Pipeline Investment Fund, which provides grants of up to £5,000 for UK Grassroots Music Venues. pic.twitter.com/Ufl7D8aP2d
— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) December 6, 2022
“We have long been supporters of MVT’s work and are proud to have raised £60K in 2024 through our annual upsell,” said Andrew Parsons, MD of Ticketmaster UK. “This year, we’ve teamed up with spaces like Epic Studios and Hackney Church, and we look forward to supporting grassroots venues for years to come.”
MVT CEO Mark Davyd expressed gratitude, noting that initiatives like these are essential at a time when many GMVs are “struggling badly just to keep the lights on.” However, while donations are impactful, they highlight the broader funding challenges grassroots venues face—challenges the UK government’s voluntary ticket levy aims to address.
Set to begin its trial year in 2025, the levy proposes diverting a small percentage of ticket sales from major events to grassroots venues. If implemented as a mandatory £1 fee per ticket, it could generate an estimated £4 million annually, based on figures published by Ticketmaster in 2023. Artists like Coldplay and Sam Fender have already pledged support, and organisations like MVT are optimistic about the initiative’s potential.
Yet, there are concerns. The voluntary nature of the levy leaves room for key players, such as venue operators and promoters, to opt out, potentially limiting its impact. With 125 grassroots venues closing in 2023, urgent action is needed to ensure venues survive long enough to benefit from these funds. A ministerial roundtable that took place last week aimed to address logistical barriers and create an actionable roadmap.
Based on these figures, with Ticketmaster matching the donations, only 30,000 transactions voluntarily donated £1. While this is an amount that shouldn’t be baulked at, it is yet to be seen how much of a difference a government-backed levy will really make.
Ticketmaster’s donation also comes as the company faces scrutiny for its role in controversial ticketing practices like dynamic pricing. The Oasis reunion tour earlier this year saw fans paying up to £400 for tickets with a face value of less than £150. This backlash has fueled support for Rupa Huq’s proposed Sale of Tickets Bill, which seeks to increase transparency and regulate pricing.
It’s official: my Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill aka the StopOasisStyleTicketRipOffs bill is listed for debate in @HouseofCommons today Wish me luck! pic.twitter.com/8l0A7fxMCp — Rupa Huq MP (@RupaHuq) December 6, 2024
Despite this, Ticketmaster’s partnership with MVT highlights the platform’s potential to positively impact the live music industry. As debates around funding and fairness continue, initiatives like the Pipeline Investment Fund and proposed ticket levy represent a collaborative path forward to protect the UK’s grassroots music scene—the foundation of its thriving live music culture.
