S Poddar
The councillors in Glasgow have recently made a radical decision to fortify the city’s grassroots music scene by proposing a £1 levy on ticket sales of large concerts in the OVO Hydro. This initiative would raise substantial revenue for supporting smaller, troubled music venues across the city.
The levy, applicable to the OVO Hydro with a capacity for 14,300 patrons, may generate hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. The venue often stages big-name artists and events; the revenue will be returned to help smaller venues that are so crucial to Glasgow’s thriving music scene.
The proposal, led by the Scottish Greens, received cross-party support at a council meeting. The next step is working out the details of how to implement the levy. According to estimates, the shows by artists such as Kylie Minogue, Sam Fender, Olly Murs, and even performances like Strictly Come Dancing and WWE could gross around £160,000.
The Music Venue Trust, among other proponents of the measure, has argued for long that grassroots venues play a vital role in the music industry’s ecosystem. Grassroots venues give up-and-coming artists a chance to hone their skills, build a following, and contribute to local cultural identity. Many iconic acts would never have reached stardom without these venues.
Artists like Coldplay, Enter Shikari, and Sam Fender have already introduced their own voluntary levies during tours, donating proceeds to grassroots venues. Such efforts highlight a growing recognition of the challenges smaller venues face, including rising operational costs and dwindling revenue.
Green councillor Christy Mearns, who put forward the motion, welcomed the council’s decision. “This measure could serve as much-needed cash for grassroots venues in Glasgow, under very real threat. Such spaces are the very lifeblood of our city’s music culture,” she said.
She emphasized that these smaller venues are integral to fostering new talent and preserving local subcultures. “Many of the big names we celebrate today began their journeys in these very spaces,” Mearns added.
Industry Backing for the Levy
The Scottish Event Campus, which operates the OVO Hydro and SEC Armadillo, has also supported the idea. According to a spokesperson of the venue, “The live entertainment industry is crucial to the UK economy and we welcome any initiatives set towards further strengthening it. Collective efforts to support the grassroots ecosystem are key.”
The challenges small venues face are staggering. It is reported that 2023 saw the live music abandonment of 125 venues across the UK with roughly half closing their doors forever. Rental increases among other financial pressures have driven a third of remaining venues into losses.
Beyond Glasgow, a levy for a ticket is gathering pace. Earlier this year, the UK government expressed enthusiasm for an industry-led voluntary levy, which the government hopes to roll out by 2025. Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant has urged for “tangible progress” by early next year.
The Westminster Culture, Media, and Sport Committee has also supported it and considers the levy a lifebuoy for smaller venues that are important for the country’s music heritage.
This collective effort does reflect a growing sense of awareness of the precarious state of grassroots music venues. Hopefully, forcing these funds from large-scale events back into the local music ecosystem will become a blueprint for other cities.
Artists, councils, and venue operators come together pointing out that they have a shared interest in keeping the music industry alive. And what Glasgow does now could mean an equal future in the live entertainment world.
