The SNP is “seriously considering” introducing a new tax on stadium and arena tickets in a bid to shore up grassroots venues.
First Minister Humza Yousaf's proposed plans would require fans of big acts such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Harry Styles to pay a fee to help the country's small and medium-sized live music venues.
- READ MORE: UK to lose 10 per cent of base sites in 2023 as calls grow for investment from rest of industry
Angus Robertson, the SNP's Culture Secretary, said he would review the tax amid concerns about the future of arts funding in Scotland.
It came after he was questioned at Holyrood by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who suggested a levy of just £1 on each ticket could help raise more than a million pounds a year.
Robertson went on to say that “new thinking” was needed when it came to funding the arts in the country.
He explained: “We have passed through a pivotal point during the pandemic. there was a change in social attitudes and there was extreme discomfort in the field of arts and culture.
“We recognize this and have tried to support the industry during this difficult time.”
Robertson added: “The levy proposal deserves further consideration.”
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) said 120 base sites are set to close across Britain in 2023 alone and that Scotland is being “disproportionately” affected (via The times).
Those in favor of the levy have suggested that the extra £1 would go unnoticed by most concertgoers, as tickets for these huge shows are usually high priced at first.
However, critics argued that the tax could further price out those on lower incomes because these gigs are already expensive and come with additional fees.
Tickets for Taylor Swift's upcoming 'Eras Tour' dates at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, for example, cost £109.40 for general admission. The top class VIP package costs £661.40.
said Mark Davyd, chief executive of MVT The times that they “actively supported” the proposed ticket levy in Scotland.
“The most successful events in our industry have a duty and responsibility to contribute to the cost of developing and nurturing talent,” he explained.
“A levy on every ticket would be an effective mechanism to achieve this result.”
David continued: “At the moment, a disproportionately large number of premises in Scotland are in our crisis service and receiving support.”
In October, Ticketmaster announced a new plan to allow its customers to contribute directly to MVT. Fans could donate to the organization through a charity upsell option on the website for one month, starting Country Day 2023 (October 17).
Independent ticketing company Skiddle also started donating 50p from every ticket sold to save grassroots venues recently. In addition, the company pledged to match all funds raised through the levy – effectively doubling each contribution.
Elsewhere, The Piece Hall in Halifax has launched an MVT donation scheme, while Taxi app FREENOW has pledged to donate £1 from every journey in a bid to save grassroots music venues.
In January, a report from MVT said UK grassroots venues were “going over a cliff” – closing the pipeline of future talent without urgent government action and investment from major arenas.
NME then reported in September that the UK was set to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots concert venues by 2023. It came as calls grew for the music industry's “big leagues” and bigger venues to do more to pay in ecosystem and save them.
In October, the MVT reiterated its call for arenas to reinvest in grassroots venues to prevent facing “disaster”.
“We're past the point where we need to see action because otherwise it's just more polite words while venues close,” David said at the time.
In the same month, MVT bought the first site under the public ownership scheme.
The #OwnOurVenues initiative was first announced in May, following the news that legendary live venues such as North London's Nambucca and Sheffield's Leadmill were closing their doors or under threat, respectively.
