It’s no secret how expensive it is to attend concerts nowadays, and it’s reached a tipping point. 

UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry, is now putting pressure on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut VAT in order to help venues that are struggling to stay afloat. 

UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive, Tom Kiehl, is calling on Hunt to lower the current 20% VAT rate to 10% in order to help “customers, music professionals, and venues.” 

While halving the VAT rate may appear to be a bold initiative, it’s a rational aim in relative terms when compared to the rates of 10.3% in the EU, 6% in Belgium, and 7% in Germany. 

The 10% rate decrease is urgently needed, as it was reported in 2023 that 125 UK venues abandoned live music, and over half of them shut entirely.

Live music is an essential part of the music industry, and perhaps of even greater importance are the communities that are formed by music lovers attending shows. The continued closures of music venues across the UK would be a significant loss for UK culture as a whole.

A more affordable concert-going experience is needed from all angles.