New fan survey sees 93 per cent of music fans support £1 ticket levy

Released by Music Fans’ Voice and based on responses from over 8,000 people, the new fan-led report revealed overwhelming support for a proposed £1 ticket levy designed to sustain and channel funding from stadium or arena tickets to grassroots music venues. 

With 93% of the report responders supporting this model - dubbed the “Premier League approach” - it marks a clear line in the sand for what fans actually want, and provides empirical support to the groundswell of public opinion for reform in the industry. 

Want to read the Music Fans’ Voice report for yourself? Visit their website and download the full executive summary and results - HERE

The idea isn’t new, but it’s gaining serious traction. Backed by artists like Coldplay, Sam Fender, and Enter Shikari, there are already signs it's starting to make a real-world impact. 

According to an update from the Music Venue Trust (MVT), over £580,000 has already been reinvested into the grassroots network via 147 grants. “This is what artists and music fans want,” said MVT. “We also continue to fight for this across the industry and at the government level—until giving back to the grassroots is the norm, and not the exception.”

Yet the report doesn't just envision a brighter future, but paints a stark picture of the present that reflects the toll of recent years. Since 2020, 58% of fans said they’ve seen a local venue or club close. More than 80% want stronger laws to protect grassroots spaces from noise complaints by new residents, with MVT citing recently that noise complaints accounted for one in five of their emergency cases in 2023. That number dropped last year, but campaigners say long-term protections are still badly needed.

Despite these challenges, support for grassroots venues is growing. One in three fans said they’ve made a more conscious effort to attend local gigs over the past year, outpacing interest in arenas, nightclubs and festivals. That rise speaks to a cultural shift, not just nostalgia, but a recognition that these spaces are essential.

The report also found near-universal agreement on the value of live music: 99% of fans said it’s vital to UK culture, while 95% highlighted its importance to the UK’s global reputation. Yet a quarter of people are going to fewer shows than they were a year ago, citing affordability and access as key concerns.

Taken together, the findings make one thing clear: the will to support grassroots music is there. The question now is whether the industry – and those in power – will act on it.

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Header image credit: Music Fans’ Voice on Facebook