The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has accused the UK government of endangering the future of live music after a planned revaluation of business rates threatened to add £7.2 million in extra tax to grassroots venues across the country.
In a strongly worded statement shared on Instagram, the charity called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his government to take “urgent and decisive action” to prevent widespread closures and steep ticket price hikes within the live music sector. The organisation warned that the incoming 2026 Business Rates Revaluation would disproportionately affect small and independent venues already operating on narrow margins.
“The entire music industry is united in calling for Sir Keir Starmer and his government to take urgent and decisive action on business rates before ticket prices soar and venues close,” the post stated. Describing the policy as “a closure notice” for hundreds of stages, the Trust urged fans, artists and industry figures to rally behind their campaign for reform. “We have come together today to sign a joint letter to the Prime Minister.”
The MVT has consistently argued that grassroots venues provide vital infrastructure for the UK’s cultural ecosystem, serving as the first performance spaces for emerging artists and local talent. The charity has warned that rising operating costs, including energy bills, rent, and licensing fees, have already placed enormous strain on many venues since the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Treasury spokesperson has publicly acknowledged in a Sky News Article that some music venues will face higher costs as support schemes end and valuations rise, but pointed to a multi‑billion‑pound support package, tax reliefs and targeted cultural funding as evidence that the government is already acting.
Even still, according to data collected by the organisation, more than 100 grassroots venues permanently closed in 2024, representing a loss of thousands of live performance opportunities nationwide. Campaigners say that additional taxation could make it impossible for many operators to remain open, leading to a reduction in live music availability and further centralisation of the industry around major cities.
The MVT is calling for a review of how business rates are applied to cultural spaces, arguing that current models treat live music venues in the same way as bars or nightclubs rather than recognising their cultural and community value. The Trust has urged the Treasury to explore a targeted relief or exemption system, similar to schemes already in place for theatres, museums, and arts centres.
Industry organisations, including UK Music and the Night Time Industries Association, have previously supported calls for structural reform to business rates, describing the tax as outdated and disproportionately burdensome for smaller, independently operated spaces. Observers warn that without better government intervention, the UK risks losing a critical part of its creative infrastructure, one that has historically been essential to the careers of many major artists.
Featured Image Credits: Prism.fm
