Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP has called on the live music industry to urgently back the LIVE Trust major venue ticket levy.

As well as pledging to tackle ticket touts and secure a better deal on touring within the EU, Nandy made a passionate call for the industry to support grassroots venues.

Speaking at the annual UK Music Summer Party, Nandy said the Government wants all relevant elements of the live music industry to sign up to the LIVE Trust funding initiative, launched in January to support the grassroots live music industry via a stadium and arena show levy of £1 per ticket on all shows with a capacity of more than 5,000.

Of the 23.1 million arena and stadium tickets on sale for 2025 only 1.8m (7.8%) have contained the grassroots levy, according to Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd.

“We want everyone to sign up to the ticket levy,” said Nandy. “My town is home to the Verve, an amazing band, and they cut their teeth playing in a load of live music venues, pubs and just gigging around Wigan. Every single one of those venues is now closed.

“When you think about where would the Verve be able to do that now, they’d have to get into Manchester, and it’s not good enough. In many parts of the country, it’s become a desert for live music venues, and we’re determined that is going to change.”

Addressing representatives from across the music industry, as well as fellow MPs and Peers, Nandy confirmed  Government is focused on seeking a better deal on touring with the EU: “We know how much it matters to you. We know how much it’s not just complicating what is a great industry, but it’s choking off opportunity. It’s bad for us. It’s bad for Europe, and we’re determined that it’s going to change.”

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl hailed the economic power of music, emphasising the industry’s £7.6 billion economic contribution and the 210,000 jobs it supports, but he said Government still needs to “desperately sort out the mess that is EU touring”.

“The recent EU-UK summit recognised the importance of cultural exchange, but we need much more concrete action from the Government, the EU and member states to make touring much easier,” he said.

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