Glasgow councillors asked to support ticket levy for small music venues

They're asking councillors to support their calls for a £1 levy on every seat sold.

Author: Callum McQuadePublished 12th Dec 2024

Tickets to see Kylie Minogue, Olly Murs and Sam Fender at the Hydro in Glasgow could soon come with an extra cost under proposals from the Scottish Greens.

They're asking councillors to support their calls for a £1 levy on every seat sold to raise money for grassroots music venues across the city.

Christy Mearns represents Anderston and Yorkhill.

She told Clyde 1: "These places add so much value to our culture and many of them are facing a crisis caused by Brexit, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

"I would hope Glasgow can be the pioneer by taking this proposal forward and taking this forward."

The city council is the majority shareholder of Scottish Events Campus Limited, which owns and operates the SEC site, including the Hydro.

Two Glasgow councillors sit on the SEC Board of Directors.

If the motion is successful then Glasgow City Council’s administration would write to the Board, requesting a pilot Stadium Levy for the Hydro.

Christy added: "Although this is not something that should be added on to tickets given the cost of tickets to arenas is already extortionate.

"This shouldn't be something that is felt by consumers in the grand scheme of the cost of a ticket."

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