Ticket Tax - Glasgow councillors have backed the introduction of a new £1 levy on tickets for ‘mega-gigs’ in the city – with the proceeds used to support small music venues. The levy would apply to the 14,300-capacity OVO Hydro which regularly hosts major artists, potentially raising hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. A motion was passed with cross-party support at a meeting of the full council, and the authority will now look in more detail at how to implement it.
The Scottish Greens, who led the motion, said upcoming performances and events by Kylie Minogue, Sam Fender, Olly Murs, comedian Peter Kay, Strictly Come Dancing and WWE could alone raise £160,000. Campaigners including the Music Venue Trust, external have called for smaller venues across the UK to receive a contribution from the proceeds of arena and stadium gigs. Coldplay, Enter Shikari and Sam Fender have all adopted a levy of their own on tours to help support the grassroots sector after dozens went to the wall last year.
Creative Campus - A series of ‘creative campuses’ dubbed the first of their kind in the UK are being launched to link up industries across theatre, opera, gaming and film, in an effort to support training and development and plug the ongoing skills gap. Designed by RIOS, the international architecture studio behind the music giant Spotify’s Content Campus in Los Angeles, a potential site for the campuses has been identified along the Thames Estuary.
The envisaged POT Studios will cater to the needs of the creative industries, providing space for production, post-production and live performance, as well as educational facilities. Leadership on the ambitious project includes Brian Warrens, director of the purpose-built production facilities the Backstage Centre; Ken Dytor, who has held senior roles at organisations such as English Heritage; and Justin Lanchbury, whose work in business development involves credits on James Bond blockbuster No Time to Die. The team promised to provide a "digital-first" emphasis, using POT Studios to explore avenues to enhance live performances and live broadcast performances.
Beck’s Back - A west London theatre that was set to close in the new year has been saved following a deal with the council. Hillingdon Council has announced a 15-year deal with new operators of the Beck Theatre, Parkwood Theatres, with the option to extend the deal by 10 years. The theatre in Hayes had been due to close in January following a row between the former operator, Trafalgar Entertainment, and the council over subsidies and costs. The deal was struck after the council brought in specialist consultants, Blue Horizon, to source a new operator and avoid a period of closure for the theatre.
Theatre Funding - Lenny Henry is to present a fundraising evening at the Bush Theatre in West London as part of efforts to secure £100,000 for the venue. It comes as the actor and writer warned that a "disastrous" absence of robust arts funding could imperil "much of the theatre, films and television we take for granted".
Henry’s original drama about the Windrush scandal, August in England, was produced by the Bush last year and will feature as part of the one-night only fundraiser aimed at helping to meet a £100,000 target. On 25 January, Henry will take part in a discussion about his career and journey with the theatre, chaired by culture writer and podcaster Nancy Durrant.
Taking a Break - A music festival is taking a break in 2025 because of "ongoing costs and difficulties finding the right artists". Live in Somerset takes place in Vivary Park, Taunton over the August Bank Holiday and has previously seen the likes of Busted, JLS and the Ministry of Sound classical orchestra headline.
Organisers LCC Live confirmed the event will be returning in 2026. Les Kidger, director at LCC Live, said: "We couldn't quite get the artists we wanted, we couldn't get the right mix together." He added: "Knowing that in 2026 Glastonbury will take a fallow year, we thought why don't we just take a year out and come back bigger and stronger in 2026."
(Jim Evans)
