Music Venue Trust celebrated its tenth annual Venues Day today, with Ticketmaster proudly serving as the headline sponsor for the ninth consecutive year. This annual event is a cornerstone of the UK music industry, celebrating the essential role of grassroots venues in supporting live music and emerging talent. It brings together venue operators, artists, and industry leaders to discuss the future of independent music spaces.
To mark the occasion, Ticketmaster has launched its annual Music Venue Trust (MVT) charity upsell, running throughout the month of October. Fans purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster’s platform will have the option to donate directly to MVT, which is dedicated to protecting and sustaining grassroots venues across the UK.
This is the second year of the charity upsell, which raised £90,000 last year. Ticketmaster will match all donations made during the month, aiming to surpass last year’s total. The initiative supports a range of grassroots venues, including Epic Studios, Hackney Church, Alfies, The Piano Bar, Soul Mama, and Y Plas nightclub, all of which play a crucial role in their local music scenes.
Mark Davyd, Founder & CEO, Music Venue Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Ticketmaster for their ongoing support for Venues Day, and for providing this upsell opportunity again for music fans to support the work of Music Venue Trust. It’s an extremely tough time for grassroots music venues right now, with more venues than ever facing threats of closure and struggling to keep live music alive in our local communities. The grassroots music sector remains absolutely essential to the future of British music, developing artists and audiences and ensuring that our towns and cities have the opportunity to experience the very best in new talent.”
Andrew Parsons, Managing Director at Ticketmaster UK, said: “Supporting grassroots venues has always been a big deal for us at Ticketmaster, which is why we’re proud to sponsor Venues Day for the 9th year running. This October, fans once again have the option to donate to MVT when buying their tickets on our site — and we’ll match every single donation. 2024 has already seen us team up with some iconic grassroots venues like Epic Studios, Hackney Church, Alfies, The Piano Bar, Soul Mama, Y Plas nightclub. These venues are the lifeblood of our industry, providing essential spaces for emerging artists and unforgettable live experiences for local communities.”
