Music / News
Gig levy to help Bristol’s grassroots music venues survive
A one per cent levy could be charged on every gig ticket in Bristol to raise money which would be reinvested into the city’s music scene.
Bristol City Council is considering a gig levy to help grassroots music venues survive as many across the country are struggling to stay afloat.
Every gig ticket sold would have a levy of one per cent of the cost, like a booking fee, paid by the customer.
is needed now More than ever
So for a gig costing £20, punters would pay an extra 20p. That would be collected into a central pot, generating an estimated £400,000 to £1m every year.
Councillors on the economy & skills policy committee gave the go-ahead for preparations on Monday. This will see a new community benefit society set up, which will manage the Bristol Music Fund.
Nighttime economy adviser, Carly Heath, said that music is “clearly very central to Bristol’s cultural identity”.
Heath said: “Grassroots venues nurture music talent, they bring communities together, and they provide the gathering spaces where people can come and celebrate and bathe in joy.
“There is chronic underinvestment in the music sector, particularly at that grassroots level, not just in Bristol but nationally.”
In Bristol, 78 per cent of events happen in venues that are under 1000-capacity, which means that the majority of our venues are technically ‘grassroots’.
But these generate only 32 per cent of the annual ticketing revenue of between £42m and £70m that the city receives, not including the wider economic benefit of gigs like a pre-concert pint in a nearby pub.
In 2024, 16 per cent of grassroots venues across the country closed due to a mix of rising costs and limited access to public funds.
Many bands now selling out huge venues have played at the Louisiana over the years – photo: Betty Woolerton
Heath added: “It’s easy to see where the disparity is on who’s doing the lion’s share of the work in creating an incredible music scene and underpinning Bristol’s reputation, but receiving a really small proportion of the revenue that the city generates.
“This self-sustaining model is to make sure that we can look after the music sector in the city for the future.”
The fund could pay for various costs like venues improving soundproofing or accessibility, putting on new midweek events and subsidising fees for support bands.
Mentoring, professional development and covering the costs of cancelled events could also feature.
As well as helping venues, the Bristol Music Fund could support artists to create and develop music.
Money would also go towards skills and training and ensuring there are “meaningful career pathways” for staff working in the industry.
A recent survey of 500 gig-goers found that most would support paying an extra one per cent on their concert tickets for a new levy.
Strange Brew is located in a former car showroom – photo: Leigh Dennis
Green councillor Cam Hayward said: “I think it’s a brilliant proposal. It’s not just about supporting venues but artists as well.
“I have friends who play gigs and they also have other jobs. It’s giving them the platform they need to build their career.”
Venues would volunteer to charge the levy, so they could opt out; but customers would have to pay the extra one per cent if the venue charged it.
The community benefit society would be owned and governed by representatives of different parts of the music industry.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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