London’s O2 Arena announces “significant funding” for UK grassroots venues

London’s O2 Arena has announced that it will make a significant donation to the Music Venue Trust (MVT) every time a new artist headlines the arena.

An initial six-figure donation is being made to the Music Venue Trust alongside a drive to encourage other organisations to put their weight behind grassroots music spaces and venues. The announcement comes as part of a three-year commitment to independent venues and grassroots music spaces pledged by the arena.

This year, over 50 artists performed at the arena for the first time in their careers, all of whom owe their trajectories to independent and small music venues, everyone from Architects and Gracie Abrams to Wolf Alice and even Pulp.

On the announcement, Emma Bownes, Senior Vice President, Venue Programming at AEG Europe, commented: “The O2 is proud to support the UK’s live music ecosystem, starting with the small stages in local communities. Every artist who headlines The O2 for the first time reflects the strength of that grassroots network. By partnering with Music Venue Trust, we’re investing in the pipeline that nurtures the next generation of breakthrough artists and ensures they have a place to start.

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, added: “This is a hugely significant and welcome move from The O2. The success of our arenas is directly connected to the health of the grassroots venues where so many of those headliners began their journey. This partnership sets a powerful new benchmark for the industry, proving that major venues can actively participate in securing the future of the talent pipeline.

“Our challenge to every other arena in the UK is simple: The O2 has taken a lead, now it’s your chance to follow.”

Last year, Music Venue Trust warned that 2024’s Autumn budget placed grassroots spaces at “immediate risk of closure”.

The same year, the MVT published a manifesto to help save grassroots spaces ahead of the election. The manifesto arrived shortly after an MVT report announced that over a third of UK grassroots music venues operate at a loss and that the number of grassroots music venues in the UK had dropped from 960 to 835 in 2023.