Fan-Led Review Of Live Music Launched By MPs To Safeguard Future Industry Success

A fan-led review of live music has been launched by MPs, aiming to improve the sustainability of the grassroots ecosystem to safeguard the success of the wider UK music industry.

The review was announced at SXSW London by Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and is one of the recommendations from the Grassroots Music Venues Report published by the UK Parliament in 2024.

The fan-led review can be completed via an online survey, allowing music fans to shape the future of grassroots gigs, clubs and festivals. It will consider the music fan experience, from the provision of live and electronic music through to considerations of safety, examine the sustainability of venues, and explore the barriers to touring faced by emerging artists. The review aims to explore the effectiveness of existing policies and how different levels of government support live music.

The review aims to put fans at the heart of how the live and electronic music industry works, and to ensure that the Government is listening to them. The goal is to collect sufficient data to influence further engagement with music fans and ultimately produce a report that sets out what fans think about live and electronic music.

Key insights from the Music Fans’ Voice Survey, which informed the fan-led review, found that “The live music industry thrives on fan engagement and remains a vital and dynamic part of culture, with Grassroots Venues service as the backbone of attendance and community engagement”.

You can take part in the fan-led review of live music here.

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of CMS Committee

“Despite some headway being made on an industry-led levy to support grassroots music, venues are still shutting their doors at an alarming rate, while the Government continues to stick its fingers in its ears when it comes to calls for a fan-led review. It’s time to put the power in the hands of those who truly understand and love live and electronic music – the fans, artists, DJs and festival goers, as well as those who work behind the scenes. They deserve a voice in shaping a thriving grassroots music scene and building a sustainable talent pipeline that ensures the UK music industry remains one of the UK’s global success stories.”