TICKETMASTER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR GRASSROOTS VENUES

Ticketmaster has made a £60k contribution to the Music Venue Trust via its fan-donation option, which allows music lovers to support the charity with every ticket purchased.

The ticketing company has matched every pound donated via the initiative. Over the past two years, it's helped raise £150k to support the future of live music at the grassroots level.

The funds go directly into MVT’s Pipeline Investment Fund, which supports grassroots U.K. music venues, artists and promoters. The fund was established in 2022 with the support of members of the Music Venues Alliance and was initially funded by donations from sales of tickets to MVT’s Revive Live gigs around the U.K. in partnership with The National Lottery.

Since the fund's launch, several other companies and organizations have run initiatives and/or made donations. To date, it has raised and allocated more than £5m, including over £500k for venue infrastructure.

According to MVT, venues in the U.K. are closing at a rate of two per week or stopping performances due to soaring expenses. In November the U.K. backed calls for a levy on arena and stadium concert tickets to support the sector.

“We've long been supporters of MVT’s work and proud to have helped raise £60k in 2024," said Andrew Parsons, Ticketmaster U.K. managing director. "This initiative is a big deal to us and we look forward to supporting grassroots music venues long into the future.”

MVT CEO Mark Davyd added, “We are very grateful to Ticketmaster and its customers for their support at a time when this type of initiative is very much needed. Their recognition that grassroots music venues are struggling badly just to keep the lights on without these types of donations and their efforts to do something about it is extremely welcome."