Music Venue Trust

Music Venue Trust (MVT) recently presented to Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and HM Treasury details of the negative impacts that failure to extend the enhanced business energy relief scheme would have on Grassroots Music Venues (GMVs) from April1st 2023. Already in 2023 one GMV is closing every week. The budget was an opportunity to ensure that this number of closures did not explode from the April 1st when GMV’s will be hit by excessive and unaffordable energy bills. The Chancellor has failed to respond to the evidence we submitted. There is no additional support for music venues and the inevitable result will be mass closures of venues. 

‘Own Our Venues’ the campaign launched by Music Venue Trust (MVT) to make a radical intervention into the ownership of the UK’s grassroots music venues (GMVs), is nearing its £2.5m fundraise target and has set a final deadline of March 30th to secure the remaining investment needed to commence the purchase of properties.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents almost 1000 UK grassroots music venues (GMVs) has launched its 2022 Annual Report, which highlights the important contribution that its members make to the UK economy while delivering sobering news about the challenges facing many in the sector.

We are writing to you as a group of organisations that represent key stakeholders in the live music industry.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has attracted widespread investment, endorsements and support from across the music industry for its ‘Own Our Venues’ initiative.

"Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this intervention by the Government, which appears at face value to comprehensively tackle the immediate short term energy crisis for Grassroots Music Venues."

Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced Ticketmaster as the headline sponsor for its forthcoming Venues Day annual networking event, which takes place on Tuesday 18th October at Hackney Church (formerly known as St John at Hackney Church), London. 

Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced a new partnership with Mobility Super App, FREE NOW.  The new headline sponsor of the Mercury Prize, FREE NOW is supporting grassroots music venues in the UK by underwriting the costs of 120 shows by future Mercury Prize hopefuls in 60 grassroots music venues.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced an ambitious new initiative, #ownourvenues, that will help grassroots music venues (GMVs) secure their long-term futures.

"Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes the Business Rates discount. However, with no action for businesses on energy bills, or NI liability, and the missed opportunity of action on VAT that would support the sector to recover from the Covid crisis, the outcome of the budget is that none of the extraordinary financial pressures being placed on venues have been mitigated or alleviated."

Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced several changes to its Board of Trustees including the appointment of new Co-Chairs and a Treasurer.

Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced a new campaign to encourage music fans to enjoy live music in safe environments by supporting their local grassroots music venues.

A catastrophic drop in attendance, advance ticket sales and spend per head has hit Grassroots Music Venues since the Government announced the implementation of the Plan B restrictions last Wednesday, placing the entire sector back on red alert for the risk of permanent closures.

In response to the UK Government announcing further COVID restrictions in a press conference this evening (Wednesday) , Mark Dayvd, the CEO of Music Venue Trust , which represents over 900 grassroots music venues has issued the following statement...

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, announces exciting additions to The National Lottery’s Revive Live Tour taking place in January 2022.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced The National Lottery’s Revive Live Tour will return in January 2022 with tours by a diverse range of artists including KEG, The Wytches, Cultdreams, Ferris & Sylvester, The Kut, Good Karma Club, BLOCS, Strange Bones, Calva Louise and LibraLibra.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced The National Lottery’s Revive Live Tour will return in January 2022.  A new round of live shows will take place across the UK in the new year, following the overwhelming success of the tour during the summer.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced a number of new patrons across the artist community and wider music industry.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues and Ticketmaster, who partner with independent promoters, venues, labels and artist management teams to work with the best emerging talent, have agreed a number of changes to their existing agreement that will result in more revenues being directed back into the grassroots music venue sector.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents over 900 UK grassroots music venues, has announced details of two major events during the next month, Venues Day Live and Venues Day Online, which will see the largest gathering of grassroots music venue operators and staff teams in the world.

The new Scottish government policy announcement on the requirement for double vaccination for entry to some premises is unclear, lacking in detail and liable to provoke confusion among both the public and venue operators. 

Music Venue Trust has conducted a series of surveys and data collection exercises during the first month of the full capacity reopening of grassroots music venues.

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has announced a new campaign to encourage live music fans to take a voluntary lateral flow test ahead of attending gigs.

In an unprecedented collaboration, The National Lottery – one of the biggest funders of culture in the UK - will contribute £1M to directly underwrite the touring and production costs of over 300 live performances this summer, enabling the grassroots live music industry to start promoting shows again in the knowledge that the upfront costs associated with touring are covered.

"This is obviously extremely welcome news for millions of music fans, for artists, crew, venues and local communities who have been deprived of live music for so long."

"Last week we called upon the government to release the results of the Events Research Programme. Without the data and evidence from this programme it is not possible to plan safe events that respond to the latest government position of creating Covid secure venues and gigs..."

Music Venue Trust has today  issued a six point plan for government intervention to manage the impact of extended restrictions on grassroots music venues.

"The announcement of a delay to the reopening at full capacity of grassroots music venues is obviously a crippling blow to the sector. Over 4000 shows will be cancelled, losing tens of thousands of people, many of them unable to earn for over 15 months, the chance to get back to work."

On Monday the Prime Minister will give a statement outlining how we move forward with the government roadmap on lifting restrictions.