FAC, MU publish open letter calling on government for artist and venue support

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and the Musicians’ Union (MU) have published an open letter to the UK Government and the live music industry in response to the ‘cost of touring crisis’ that is affecting artists and performers. 

Earlier this year, a report from the UK’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee recognised the situation and suggested that artists, independent promoters and grassroots venues should benefit from a small blanket ticket level applied to arena and stadium events.

However, this has not materialised – though a number of artists, including Sam Fender and band Coldplay, have agreed to donate a proportion of their ticket revenue to the Music Venue Trust to support grassroots venues.

“In March, I gave evidence before the Culture Select Committee, alongside Lily Fontaine from the Mercury-winning band, English Teacher. We made it clear to MPs that any solution to the ‘cost of touring crisis’ facing UK grassroots music must involve the direct funding of artists,” commented David Martin, chief executive of the FAC.

“The Committee agreed, and concluded that a proposed levy on arena and stadium shows must benefit artists and independent promoters – as well as grassroots venues.

“However, since the publication of their report, the FAC has become increasingly concerned about the direction of travel. Today, we call on the government to help get this conversation back on track to deliver the £1 ticket levy that grassroots live music so desperately needs. We are also asking fans, artists and the wider music industry to sign our open letter to save grassroots touring.”

The MU represents more than 35,000 musicians working across all sectors and genres of music, while the FAC is the UK trade body representing the rights and interests of music artists.

“If artists can’t rely upon a healthy and financially viable grassroots live sector, the industry as a whole suffers,” said Kelly Wood, head of live at the Musicians’ Union.

“We urgently need to see the introduction of a robust and sustainable funding mechanism, allowing artists to carry out tours without significant risk. Without this kind of support, we will lose artists from the music community, and the talent pipeline will be severely disrupted.”