Royal Albert Hall Announced As First 5,000+ Capacity Venue To Adopt The £1 Grassroots Ticket Levy

The Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London has announced their commitment to adopt the £1 Grassroots Ticket Levy.

The 5,272-capacity venue in West London is the first 5,000+ capacity venue to permanently adopt the £1 levy on its tickets, which has the potential to raise £300,000 a year to support the foundations of the UK’s live music industry.

In October 2018, MVT developed the grassroots ticket levy as a major initiative to persuade the most successful parts of the live music industry to reinvest in the grassroots music venues that produce the research and development for the industry. Enter Shikari were the first artist to adopt the £1 ticket levy on their 2024 arena tour tickets, exemplifying the viability of the levy concept. The concept was developed to urge the music industry to include a £1 ticket levy on live music tickets in venues with a capacity of over 5,000. The LIVE Trust was set up in 2025 to administer the ticket levy and is governed by a board of music industry trustees.

The 2025 Music Fans’ Voice Survey results found that 93% of music fans agreed that £1 from every arena and stadium ticket should go to a fund that directly supports the grassroots music industry.

You can learn more about the grassroots ticket levy on the MVT Resources page.

James Ainscough OBE, CE, Royal Albert Hall and founding trustee of LIVE Trust

James Ainscough OBE, CE, Royal Albert Hall and founding trustee of LIVE Trust
“Headlining the Royal Albert Hall is a career pinnacle for many artists, but our venue is reliant on a vibrant music ecosystem across the UK. The grassroots is essential for the development and discovery of new artists, honing live performance skills, building communities, and fostering innovation and fresh talent both on and off the stage.

By embracing the £1 contribution and becoming the first arena where it is “always on”, we are adding this charity’s name to the growing momentum around the £1 grassroots contribution – an idea first proposed by Music Venue Trust, first done by Enter Shikari, and now being picked up by artists and promoters across the UK.

I am also a trustee of the brand new LIVE Trust, and look forward to playing my part in ensuring that every pound raised has the maximum impact, securing a thriving grassroots music sector for generations to come.”

 

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee
“The levy commitment from such a world-famous venue is a fantastic boost for this initiative. The levy will help save small venues across the country and hone the skills of future performing stars. While the Royal Albert Hall deserves a standing ovation for their leadership on this, I now hope other major venues, promoters and artists will follow suit.”