UK Music has given a cautious welcome to the government’s new budget measures which limit business rate rises, but called for more detail around its impact on live music venues.
According to the organisation, the live music sector has some serious concerns about how small, grassroots venues will be adversely affected by an overhaul in business rates.
The industry fears that this could lead to large rises in many urban areas and force a number of venues to shut their doors.
UK Music wrote to Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, at the weekend (the text of which can be found here) on behalf of the UK Live Music Group to voice its concerns and to call for extra measures to mitigate the harmful effects on culture and creativity in communities.
Jo Dipple, UK Music chief executive, said: ‘UK Music welcomes the commitment to wider reform of business rates before the next revaluation and the pledge to establish the discretionary relief fund. But the government must set out the exact formula for this relief and the time frame for rate reform at the earliest opportunity to give confidence to music businesses affected by rate increases.
‘A discount for pubs is potentially good news, but it is unclear as to whether this will apply to music venues too. We seek assurances from the government that this will indeed help out the hardest-hit music venues.’
Independent Venue Week (IVW) took place earlier in the year to celebrate small live music venues.
Watch our video interview with IVW founder Sybil Bell on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
According to the organisation, the live music sector has some serious concerns about how small, grassroots venues will be adversely affected by an overhaul in business rates.
The industry fears that this could lead to large rises in many urban areas and force a number of venues to shut their doors.
UK Music wrote to Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, at the weekend (the text of which can be found here) on behalf of the UK Live Music Group to voice its concerns and to call for extra measures to mitigate the harmful effects on culture and creativity in communities.
Jo Dipple, UK Music chief executive, said: ‘UK Music welcomes the commitment to wider reform of business rates before the next revaluation and the pledge to establish the discretionary relief fund. But the government must set out the exact formula for this relief and the time frame for rate reform at the earliest opportunity to give confidence to music businesses affected by rate increases.
‘A discount for pubs is potentially good news, but it is unclear as to whether this will apply to music venues too. We seek assurances from the government that this will indeed help out the hardest-hit music venues.’
Independent Venue Week (IVW) took place earlier in the year to celebrate small live music venues.
Watch our video interview with IVW founder Sybil Bell on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
