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The Latest Breaking News from MVT

Spotify says it made ‘big numbers’ last year — but it needs to invest in these 3 areas if it wants to please its loyal subscribers

There's a lot that Spotify could be investing in, but these three areas are the first that spring to mind.

TechRadar

“This sector has done all it can to keep music live in our communities, it now needs permanent protection”: Annual Music Venue Trust report reveals sector is “fragile” and “one shock away from a crisis”

CEO calls on government to make grassroots levy mandatory

MusicRadar

Wednesday briefing: Can we afford to be optimistic about grassroots music venues?

In today’s newsletter: Music spaces are welcoming bigger crowds again, but the industry remains fragile as rising costs and shrinking local circuits threaten the next generation of talent

The Guardian - UK

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read the most diverse news in one place.

UK grassroots music venues show lowest decline since 2018 as sector stabilises post-pandemic

The number of small venues shrank by just nine in 2025, but more than half of them reported making no profit, while employment in the sector dropped almost 22%

The Guardian - UK

More than half of grassroots music venues did not make money in 2025 – charity

The Music Venue Trust found that despite contributing over half a billion pounds to the UK economy, grassroots music venues in the UK are struggling.

Evening Standard

London’s O2 Arena announces funding for UK grassroots gig venues

The 20,000-capacity venue will feed revenue back into smaller venues to ‘nurture the next generation of breakthrough artists’

The Guardian - UK

“An incredible gesture, demonstrating once again that artists absolutely understand how vital grassroots music venues are to their careers and to their communities”: Sam Fender to donate his Mercury winnings to the Music Venue Trust

Singer songwriter had already raised £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour

MusicRadar

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Sam Fender donates £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to grassroots venues

Sam Fender is giving his entire Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust (MVT).

BANG Premier

Sam Fender donates £25,000 Mercury Prize to one charity

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The Independent UK

Sam Fender donates his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to charity

The singer won the award in October for his third studio album

The Independent UK

Sam Fender donates his £25,000 Mercury prize winnings to Music Venue Trust charity

Chart-topping singer-songwriter adds to his previous support of charity that works on behalf of small UK venues

The Guardian - UK

Sam Fender donates Mercury Prize winnings to charity protecting music venues

The singer from North Shields has given £25,000 to Music Venue Trust (MVT).

Evening Standard

Beyond regional doubt: why more acts are touring the UK’s far-flung venues – and why it’s worth making the effort

With touring costs rising and venues closing, many acts are only playing big city dates. But as the Beatles and Led Zep showed in the past, more scenic routes can pay off

The Guardian - UK

"These places are legendary”: Sam Fender’s arena tour raises over £100,000 for UK’s small venues

Money raised will be distributed to 38 different venues

MusicRadar

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The Independent UK

Music Venue Trust teams up with ‘people’s social media platform’ WeAre8

Partnership aims to promote local artists and the venues they’re performing at

The Independent UK

Music venues closing under ‘extreme and totally unnecessary financial pressures’

The Music Venue Trust said the closure rate is less than in 2023.

MusicRadar

“The contribution from these shows will keep venues open”: Katy Perry to donate £1 from every ticket sold on her 2025 UK tour to small venues

US singer joins Coldplay as latest arena artist to donate to MVT

Metal Hammer

Music Venue Trust warns of "complete collapse of live music" in the UK as government cuts business rate tax relief

Over 350 grassroots music venues, 75,000 events and more than 12,000 jobs are at risk, say the Music Venue Trust

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MusicRadar

“Large swathes of the country are missing out on seeing artists”: New figures suggest much of the UK is becoming a ‘touring desert’

New figures suggest large swathes of the country are becoming a 'touring desert'

MusicRadar

“It’s fantastic to see them celebrating their own pathway to Wembley by giving back to the grassroots music venues that supported them”: Coldplay announce stadium shows that will give back to the grassroots

Coldplay's stadium shows will give back to grassroots venues

The Independent UK

MPs urged to ‘seize the moment’ and support grassroots music venues ahead of general election

Music Venue Trust also calls for a fan-led review to fully examine the challenges faced by the sector

The Conversation

Save our grassroots music spaces: cross-party report calls for levy to help venues in crisis

With politics now moving into the gladiatorial phase for the general election, it’s easy to forget the huge amount of parliamentary work taken up by cross-party efforts in select committees responsible for overseeing the work of government departments.

The Guardian - UK

MPs call for levy on arena concert tickets to raise funds for struggling small venues

Trade bodies welcome proposal from cross-party culture committee that would prop up grassroots gig venues without passing cost to consumers

The Guardian - UK

More gigs postponed amid opening week chaos at Manchester Co-op Live arena

General manager resigns after test event problems at 23,500-capacity venue, with shows rescheduled

The Guardian - UK

Thousands ‘fuming’ after tickets cancelled for Co-op Live arena show in Manchester

Rick Astley sang for staff, VIPs and press in test event at UK’s biggest indoor arena ahead of opening

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