ASM Global which operates AO Arena, OVO Arena Wembley, First Direct Arena and more, has announced its support for the Music Venue Trust, committing to ensuring its vital work in the grassroots music industry is further strengthened through an extensive set of new initiatives. This includes OVO Arena Wembley matching Enter Shikari’s £1 per ticket sold donated to the MVT when they play in February 2024. This comes in response to MVT’s founder and CEO, Mark Davyd‘s open letter in Music Week, calling for more support from large venue operators for Grassroots Music Venues
Music Venue Trust (MVT) is a charity that represents and protects almost 1000 grassroots music venues (GMVs). ASM Global, in partnership with MVT, will bolster its support for MVT with donations, training and marketing support, with programmes that will roll out on a local level across ASM Global’s portfolio of UK venues which includes Utilita Arena Newcastle, P&J Live Aberdeen, Bonus Arena Hull, York Barbican, and more.
Through donations, ASM Global will actively seek opportunities to support MVT as part of its ongoing planning. This includes one-off initiatives designed to raise additional income for the fund, like matching Enter Shakri’s £1 donation per ticket. There will also be opportunities for additional fundraising activity for GMVs via tickets for events at ASM Global venues. ASM Global will also make equipment and furniture in need of a new home available to grassroots music venues that need it. Training will play a pivotal role in this commitment, with ASM Global offering access to training across the sector The team will also offer social media support on a local level, as well as providing training and marketing support making these venues as visible as possible in their local markets.
Tom Lynch, Commercial Director and SVP Europe at ASM Global was recently announced as a Patron of Music Venue Trust. He said, “At ASM Global, we are very aware and concerned about the unprecedented cost pressures facing Grassroots Music Venues, and in turn, the knock-on pressures placed on the pipeline of talent for the rest of the live music industry. Grassroots Music Venues are the lifeblood of our cultural fabric and where much of society truly falls in love with music for the first time. As a team, we have always admired the passion and hard work of Music Venue Trust, in providing a voice to Grassroots Music Venues and creating a framework for vital support to keep the music playing.”
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said, “We want to thank ASM Global for being the first arena operators to respond to our call for support from the live music industry to deal with the crisis engulfing grassroots music venues. This is an incredibly important first step towards ensuring that when an artist emerges from the grassroots sector, everyone shares in the success they generate once they reach the very top of the industry. We look forward to developing this important relationship.”
Tom Lynch, ASM Global and Mark Davyd, Music Venue Trust appeared on BBC Radio 4 Front Row with presenter Nick Ahad on 21st June to discuss Davyd’s Open letter to the live events industry and what’s being done to tackle the issues in a constructive way moving forward, paving the way for the headliners of tomorrow.
