America, suffice it to say, has not been a leader in supporting the arts. It seems like the right time to look outside our borders for ideas and inspiration. Here’s just a few examples how other countries are making live music more affordable for fans and sustainable for artists and venues.
UK – affordable tickets UK caps resale at face value.
It’s now illegal to resell tickets for live events above the original cost in the UK. Fan Alliance is working in coalition with groups in several states in the U.S. to pass similar legislation. Ticket resellers like StubHub, Vivid Seats and others use networks of brokers and bots to buy up tickets and then sell them at inflated prices. They are spending huge amounts lobbying legislators to block those laws. If you live in NY, MN, or CA you can help push back on the scalpers:
Ireland: Universal basic income for artists
The Irish government created a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program to provide weekly payments of 325 Euro ($377.92 U.S.) to 2,200 artists, creative workers and musicians. The reason: “to address the financial instability faced by many working in the arts.” Sound familiar?
Scotland: Keeping artists on tour
The Scottish government is establishing a £300,000 pilot rapid-response fund to support Scottish musicians with costs such as travel, freight and visa applications.
UK and France: Funding for the live music ecosystem
The UK LIVE Trust was created to collect funds raised by a £1 levy from arena and stadium tickets. Those funds support the “grassroots” (called “independent” in the U.S.) music ecosystem that’s struggling with escalating costs of event production, touring, and venue operations. It’s voluntary (for now) but lots of major artists are adding it for their shows including Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, and more.
In France, a 3.5% tax is in place on all concert ticket sales, with revenue going into a central fund managed by the Centre National de la Musique (CNM). The funding supports live music by covering venue and promoter losses and artist development from recordings to rehearsals. Mark Davyd of The UK’s Music Venue Trust says it works: “no venues in France have closed.” America, are you listening?
Do you know of others?
There’s probably many more and there are some cities and states in the U.S. that are taking action to foster an independent music ecosystem. If you know of any – here or elsewhere – send them to us at info@thefanalliance.org and we’ll share.
Go see some live music!
Join us and support a music community that works for fans and artists alike.
