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From twenty years of running my own business, I learned that anything good takes at least a couple of years to achieve. Some get lucky, but the reality for most businesses, for most people, is that luck only comes around a couple of times in a lifetime. In the music scene, the work of organisations like The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has never been so important. They work tirelessly to support grassroots music at all levels. As their name suggests their focus is in trying to overturn the massive loss of music venues across the country. These are staggering losses to any community in a country with music embedded in its DNA.
So watch the following edition of The Last Safe Space to learn about all the other stuff MVT have become involved in since their foundation in January 2014. Although this video link is a couple of months old, many of the points made remain absolutely valid, and some address matters of real concern to the future of grassroots music. Whatever the concessions and/or support from government, continuing political pressure from MVT has become a vital element in addressing those concerns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgIF_xqkbG4
“Our premises taxes are double what they are in Europe”
One of the many takeouts from the video (and please do watch the whole of it if you want to learn what an absolute legend Sam Fender has become!) is that among the threats to survival of our local music venues are business taxes and the way in which the planning system seems to work. “There should be a special business rate for grassroots music venues” does carry creedence.
The respective treatment of small physical venues versus digital spaces run by multinational companies is very, very different. Of those two categories, which has the potential to contribute the most tax revenue to the government’s coffers? The reality is that many big organisations pay no tax at all and others pay lip service through creative accounting practises, while small venues are being clobbered with a level of tax long thought to be unfair. Nobody expects a free ride, but this level of unfairness has stepped way over the mark.
We Are All Part of the Political Process, Like It Or Not
It’s important we all play our part. There’s no point whingeing about the loss of music venues, poor rates of pay from PRS or PPL, appalling streaming rates per play etc, if we are not also – as individuals – prepared to get off our backsides, literally or digitally to do something about it.
I write regularly to my local Labour MP on a range of issues, and his replies are not copied and pasted! Most MPs will engage with a respectful and reasoned approach. Irrespective of political colour, almost all MPs have music in their lives to a greater or lesser degree. All of them like to be re-elected.
MVT is engaging with the political process and getting the ear of Parliament, but there is stuff we can all do to support their efforts. Whether music and the arts or any other subject, it is vital to engage with your local representatives: councillors and MPs rely on re-election, and will sit up and take notice of anything that threatens that. They are also more likely to take notice of organised groups of constituents than individuals. “This is about politicians in their constituencies”.
A good, free way to support independent music, whether the venues or the musicians, is to write to your MP about the concerns you may have for venues in your area, or for the arts in general. It’s important also to remember that when a new MP comes into office, they will inherit a desk full of constituent letters. These give them an idea of the size of the job, but also the priorities for the constituents they have been elected to serve.
So what are you waiting for?
Peace.
John