Music Venue Trust (MVT) has moved into a delivery phase of its national support programme for UK grassroots music venues, deploying new funding and launching a series of initiatives focused on infrastructure, touring and operational sustainability.

The programme is supported by a £200,000 allocation from The LIVE Trust, funded through a voluntary £1 contribution on tickets for shows above 5,000 capacity. The funding is being directed to industry organisations including MVT to accelerate practical interventions across the grassroots sector.

Infrastructure and production upgrades
At the core of the rollout is investment in venue infrastructure. Through the ‘Raise The Standard’ initiative, MVT is funding upgrades to sound, lighting and backline systems, aimed at improving production quality and strengthening the commercial viability of smaller venues within the wider live market.

Alongside technical improvements, venue facilities are also being expanded. Artist accommodation projects under ‘Stay The Night’ and ‘Feel At Home’ are already underway, with completed work at venues such as Voodoo Daddy’s in Norwich and further developments planned or in progress in cities including Leicester, Sunderland, Newcastle, Birmingham and London. The objective is to remove practical barriers that have limited tour routing in certain regions.

Energy and cost reduction measures
Energy costs are being addressed through the ‘Off The Grid’ programme, with audits currently taking place at venues including Future Yard in Birkenhead, The Globe in Cardiff and The Exchange in Bristol. Planned solar and battery installations are intended to reduce long-term operating costs and improve financial resilience.

Rebuilding touring activity
Touring is being supported in parallel through collaborations with promoters and organisations including Save Our Scene, This Feeling, AGMP and members of the Association of Independent Promoters. MVT’s ‘Liveline’ initiative has already delivered more than 75 new events across 28 towns and cities in the first three months of 2026, supporting grassroots touring artists and local acts. Hundreds of additional events across multiple tours are already contracted or in negotiation for the remainder of the year.

Venue stabilisation and operational support
Funding is also being used to support venues facing immediate financial pressure. MVT’s Venue Support Team and ‘Emergency Response Hardship Fund’ continue to provide targeted assistance, while the ‘Venue MOT’ programme focuses on improving operational efficiency and addressing structural cost challenges.

Economic pressures on the sector
The programme comes amid ongoing financial strain across the UK grassroots sector. MVT data indicates that more than half of venues reported no profit in 2025, with rising costs linked to National Insurance and business rates contributing to job losses. Around 30 venues closed permanently over the past year, while 175 towns and cities are no longer receiving regular touring shows by professional artists. Average profit margins across the sector remain at approximately 2.5%.

Beverley Whitrick, COO of Music Venue Trust, said, “Grassroots music venues cannot keep being expected to survive on goodwill and admiration alone. If the UK music industry is serious about protecting the talent pipeline, then it has to get serious about the economics that underpin it. This funding and the initiatives we are delivering are about practical change, lowering costs, improving infrastructure, rebuilding touring and creating a sector that is more resilient, more investable and fit for the future. Our goal is clear; don’t just fund problems, fix them.”

Since its formation in 2014, Music Venue Trust has played a central role in sector advocacy, including campaigning for a grassroots ticket levy and contributing to the creation of The LIVE Trust.

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