{"id":107054,"date":"2026-02-04T13:35:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T13:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=107054"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:34:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:34:39","slug":"grassroots-funding-business-rates-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/grassroots-funding-business-rates-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Grassroots wins – \u00a3500k distributed by LIVE Trust & business rates support for pubs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week saw two big wins for UK grassroots music, including government support for UK pubs and charity funding distribution.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’ve covered plenty of news over the last few years about the continuing struggle of grassroots music, in the UK and beyond. The picture, particularly since the major blow of the Covid-19 pandemic, has been consistently gloomy, albeit with glimmers of hope. Last week saw two beams of positivity bursting through the clouds for UK grassroots music. Firstly, the UK government has finally made moves around business rates for pubs – which are crucial spaces for independent music – and, secondly, LIVE Trust made its first distribution of funding to various grassroots entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the 27th of January, the UK government announced a support package<\/a> designed to back British pubs. As Music Ally<\/a> notes, business rates were due to jump up this spring for hospitality venues like pubs and venues. With establishments already struggling financially, this move would have surely spelled the end for many communities’ vital spaces. With many pubs doubling as venues, particularly for emerging or independent artists, this would have been a significant step backwards for grassroots music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The support package will see pubs get a 15% cut to new rates bills from April, with a two-year real-terms freeze afterwards. In addition, a review into the method used to value pubs for business rates will be conducted as part of the government’s commitment to the reform of the business rates system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government’s announcement stated, “Pubs will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value them for business rates.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second piece of good news for grassroots music came from LIVE Trust<\/a>, which announced the first distribution phase of charitable funding to its live music industry partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LIVE to start securing the future of grassroots music venues through \u00a31 ticket levy<\/a><\/blockquote>