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Written Question
Music Venues: Finance
Friday 16th June 2023

Asked by: Lord Watts (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to improve funding opportunities for grassroots music venues to prevent them from closing down.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)

His Majesty’s Government is committed to supporting our grassroots music venues, which play an absolutely crucial role in our world-leading music sector, and are key to developing the future talent pipeline.

That is why we will support them to develop the next generation of British talent by providing an additional £5 million to Arts Council England’s successful Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund, as announced in the Creative Industries Sector Vision on 14 June. This fund will enable venues to increase support for young, emerging and more diverse artists, improve equipment and physical infrastructure, and support venues to become more financially resilient and develop new income streams.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in regular discussions with all parts of the music industry, including live venues of all sizes across the country. The department works closely with interested parties and across Government to ensure the live music sector continues to thrive.

HM Government has provided significant support to the live music sector. This includes more than £3 million during the pandemic from the Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund, and through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund via Arts Council England since 2019.


Written Question
Music Venues: Finance
Friday 16th June 2023

Asked by: Lord Watts (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they will address the uneven funding between (1) contemporary music, and (2) opera or classical music, to ensure that grassroots music venues are well supported.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)

His Majesty’s Government is committed to supporting our grassroots music venues, which play an absolutely crucial role in our world-leading music sector, and are key to developing the future talent pipeline.

That is why we are supporting them to develop the next generation of British talent, by providing an additional £5 million to Arts Council England’s successful Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund, as announced in the Creative Industries Sector Vision on 14 June. This fund will enable venues to increase support for young, emerging and more diverse artists, improve equipment and physical infrastructure, and support venues to become more financially resilient and develop new income streams.

This is in addition to other government support provided to the live music sector, including over £3 million during the pandemic from the Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund, and through Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund since 2019.

Contemporary, operatic, and classical music subsectors receive funding through a wide variety of sources, including Arts Council England. Decisions made by the Arts Council about the allocation of funding are taken at arm's length from Government. Decisions are made in line with the Council’s ten-year strategy, which sets the direction for all of the artforms and sub-sectors it supports, including opera, contemporary, and classical music.


Written Question
Music Venues: Finance
Friday 16th June 2023

Asked by: Lord Watts (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking to ensure financial support is provided for grassroots music, such as a ticket levy on large arenas and stadiums.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)

His Majesty’s Government is committed to supporting our grassroots music venues, which play an absolutely crucial role in our world-leading music sector, and are key to developing the future talent pipeline.

That is why we will support them to develop the next generation of British talent by providing an additional £5 million to Arts Council England’s successful Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund, as announced in the Creative Industries Sector Vision on 14 June. This fund will enable venues to increase support for young, emerging and more diverse artists, improve equipment and physical infrastructure, and support venues to become more financially resilient and develop new income streams.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in regular discussions with all parts of the music industry, including live venues of all sizes across the country. The department works closely with interested parties and across Government to ensure the live music sector continues to thrive.

HM Government has provided significant support to the live music sector. This includes more than £3 million during the pandemic from the Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund, and through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund via Arts Council England since 2019.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 10 Oct 2022
London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012: Legacy

"My Lords, do the Government think they have got the priorities right? We seem to spend an awful lot of money on elite sports, but grass-roots sports seem to be neglected. Should we not put more money into the grass-roots rather than elite sports?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012: Legacy

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 21 Jul 2022
Channel 4: Annual Report

"My Lords, the Government continue to say that they do not like to interfere with board decisions, and here is a board that has been very successful. The reason members had that salary increase was that it was linked to the company’s productivity, yet this Government think they know better …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Channel 4: Annual Report

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Gambling White Paper

"My Lords, many people are disappointed by the Government’s decision to defer this matter again. The Lords committee that looked at this made some strong recommendations, which I think that most people agreed with, and which struck a balance between allowing people who want to have a flutter to do …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Gambling White Paper

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 25 Apr 2022
English Football: Independent Regulator

"My Lords, I am grateful for this government initiative. It is overdue. Will Ministers talk to people in Europe and around the world? Given the problems we have seen in recent years, the same regulation is needed for both the European and international game...."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: English Football: Independent Regulator

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 05 Apr 2022
Channel 4 Privatisation

"My Lords, is it not the case that the Government do not like criticism? They have cowed the BBC over the licence fee. Now they are taking on Channel 4. Can the Minister explain how the privatisation of Channel 4, which will have to pay dividends to shareholders, will give …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Channel 4 Privatisation

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 14 Mar 2022
Broadcasting White Paper

"My Lords, can the Minister explain why Russia Today was allowed to broadcast for as long as it did, sending out its propaganda on a daily basis? Surely there is a need for balance, and should not the regulator have taken action far beyond what it did before? It has …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Broadcasting White Paper

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 09 Feb 2022
Gambling Act 2005

"My Lords, the Government have had the House of Lords report, which is an excellent report, led by the noble Lord, Lord Grade, that made strong recommendations on a system that would protect the vulnerable as well as give some certainty to the industry. Given that unlicensed sites have now …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Gambling Act 2005