OPINION
Levelling the field for festivals
Association of Independent Festivals CEO John Rostron says we need a government that can reset the rules and safeguard a future for independent festivals
As I write this , 74 festivals have now cancelled , postponed or called time in 2024 . That ’ s over double the number from 2023 when 36 fell . Many of these are ( or were ) successful , established events . They were popular with audiences , artists and their communities . Most have fallen because the challenges of running an independent festival have become immense since the pandemic - rising supply chain costs ; tougher terms from suppliers ; and the need for festival promoters to almost entirely pay for their event before the gates open . A small independent festival of , say , 10,000 people , might require £ 1.2- £ 2M to put on their event . Trying to find that kind of money upfront for an independent is incredibly tough , hence why so many are disappearing .
Meanwhile the major transnational corporations are not only able to ride out these bumps with their vastly deep pockets , but also contribute additional pressure to independents by locking out artists and distorting fees . For them , the demise of independents is a positive . Scarcity is good for their business . If you think I ’ m being unfair , then ask why are grassroots music venues on fire ? Why aren ’ t these major corporation rushing to help them ? Why haven ’ t they enacted a voluntary levy on major shows ?
If we believe that all of them are playing by the rules then this is not a good game for any of us to be playing . Festivals folding ; artist opportunities disappearing ; audiences losing local offers and a reduction in choice . So we turn to the Government who can reset the rules and try and balance things a little better for everyone to enjoy a more fair competition . Yet so far the response from the new Labour Government has been incredibly disappointing . When it comes to festivals there ’ s been nothing other than a nod that they ’ ll extend the Arts Council England ‘ Supporting Grassroots Music Fund ’ for one more year . A crumb to some events in England if they ’ re lucky with an application in an incredibly competitive space for a pot whose amount is yet to be confirmed .
“ THE TRANSNATIONALS ARE DOUSING KEROSENE ON THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC SECTOR .”
Before being appointed Secretary of State for Culture , Media & Sport , Lisa Nandy had published ‘ All In ’ a book which I ’ d read full of promise of ‘ grassroots ’ ‘ people power ’ and ‘ devolution ’ to local communities . I was delighted when Lisa used the same rhetoric when arriving in post , talking of culture bringing people together and improving living standards in more villages , towns and cities . Yet despite AIF asking for support for independent festivals ; suggesting temporary lowering of VAT ; even just ‘ exploring ’ different models of VAT as recommended by the CMS Inquiry
John Rostron
into grassroots music venues - the Government has said ‘ no ’.
Paradoxically to Lisa ’ s talk of people , communities and towns , Chancellor Rachel Reeves talks of ‘ growth ’ in a way that seemingly favours major companies , institutions and transnationals . Odd too that such talk of growth in these terms counter the challenges tasked to departments and colleagues such as Ed Miliband in Energy and Climate Change . Investment in independent festivals would lead to the kind of sustainable growth that would be of benefit to all .
There ’ s one thing Lisa Nandy has been vocal about and that ’ s a ticket levy on arenas which would then trickle down to the grassroots ecosystem . Trickle down ? Aren ’ t those the two words of a Government of old ? Grassroots music venues are on fire and the torch is now blazing under independent festivals . The pandemic and then Brexit lit the match , and it feels to those in the frontline that the likes of the transnationals are dousing kerosene on the independent music sector .
An arena and stadia levy would be welcome , but there ’ s no point pouring water into a bucket full of holes without taking the kerosene away first . It ’ s up to the Government to level the field , support us all to fix the bucket , and together we can all turn on the tap .
accessaa . co . uk 13