The year the music died

VAT lifeline needed for 100 festivals falling silent next year

- Paul Jeeves

MORE than 100 festivals could vanish in 2025 delivering a devastating blow to the UK music industry unless Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers the lifeline of a temporary VAT reduction on ticket sales, claim experts.

While mega festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds rake in huge profits, smaller gatherings are struggling.

Crunch

The worrying development was highlighted in the UK Music annual report This Is Music 2024, which revealed the £7.6billion contribution the industry makes to the economy.

Yet while major acts blossomed with Elton John, Blur, Pink and Ed Sheeran all playing big UK shows significant challenges threaten the UK's world-leading status.