The government is set to introduce a voluntary levy on tickets for stadium and arena concerts to help fund grassroots concert venues.

Ministers expect the music industry to push through its proposals “as soon as possible” for next year’s shows, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said.

The government says an “industry-led” levy “up to the price of a ticket” would be the quickest and most effective way to use revenue from bigger shows to help the local sector.

“Ministers have made it clear that they want a voluntary tax to come into force as soon as possible for concerts in 2025, with clear communication to fans about the purpose of this tax and the benefits it would bring to the sector basic,” said the DCMS. said.

Smaller venues have struggled in recent years following the pandemic and rising inflation.

Some bands have already started donating a portion of their ticket sales to help fund smaller venues.

Enter Shikari has donated £1 from every ticket sold for its 2024 arena tour to the Music Venue Trust while Cold play have also pledged to donate 10% of profits from their upcoming UK stadium tour to support small venues.

Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Popular music venues are one of the UK’s most valuable yet undervalued cultural assets. »

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He continued: “It’s where bands try out new material, where entirely new genres are born, where musicians experiment and where audiences can experience the raw power of live music.

“These sites support thousands of jobs and are a vital part of our local communities.

“Without a thriving grassroots music industry, the rest of our music industry will wither.”

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Sir Chris added: “That’s why I’m urging the industry to voluntarily introduce a ticket tax on the biggest commercial players, to help ensure the health and future success of our entire entertainment industry. live music for decades to come.”

The cross-party committee on culture, media and sport, which initially tabled the proposal, welcomed the ministerial support but said a “firm deadline” was needed on how much time the industry has to act “before that the government itself does not intervene.

The commission said it would hold a hearing with the industry in six months if no major progress is made.