The UK's fan-led live music revolution: saving grassroots venues & fixing ticket rip-off pricing – with Lord Kevin Brennan and Shain Shapiro

<p><strong>A little bonus cross-over episode for you Focus listeners. </strong>On our <a href="https://tpom.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Price of Music Podcast</a>, we had two very special guests talk about how to actually make important change happen in the UK’s live industry at grassroots level, and improve the live music fan&#39;s experience: <a href="https://members.parliament.uk/member/1400/career">Lord Kevin Brennan of Canton⁠</a>, Labour member of the House of Lords – and a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0yxA18E0loFdVR1rqV0Q2s?si=BU-g-M6hQv-Renndv2k9wQ">⁠recording musician⁠</a> himself. </p><p>We also speak to <a href="https://www.shainshapiro.com/">⁠Shain Shapiro⁠</a>, who amongst other things is author of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Must-Be-Place-Better/dp/1915672058">⁠<em>This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better</em>⁠</a><em>.</em> (They are both speaking about this on 10th June at the <a href="https://www.musiccitiesevents.com/hull">⁠Music Cities Convention in Hull⁠</a>, FYI.)</p><p><strong>** As ever, our ⁠⁠</strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join">⁠⁠⁠⁠<strong>Patreon Superfans</strong>⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><strong>⁠⁠ get the full interviews – with 50% extra conversation! </strong><em>Become a </em><a href="https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<em>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</em><em><strong>Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section! </strong></em>⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><strong>**</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>We talk about the important stuff that fans care about:</strong> surge ticket pricing, local grassroots venues, music fan associations and more – and it’s all built on the results of the <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmcumeds/1628/report.html">⁠UK’s Fan–led Review of Live and Electronic Music⁠</a>, the House of Commons committee special report that Lord Brennan oversaw. He explains what he learned and what can – and should – be done next. </p><p>Then Shain explains why live music must be treated as a &quot;vital public good&quot; – i.e. just like libraries or the NHS – and how people like you can build real political heft, in order to save their struggling local spaces. </p><p><br></p><ul><li><p><strong>Lord Brennan reflects on his past work</strong> with the Music Streaming Inquiry, examining how parliamentary reports can ripple out to create real-world impact for creators, even when they don’t instantly become law.</p></li><li><p><strong>Essential learnings from the live fans&#39; report:</strong> From transport and safety to fair ticketing, Lord Brennan boils down the core pillars that everyday music lovers actually care about.</p></li><li><p><strong>The surge pricing backlash:</strong> The data doesn&#39;t lie – fans are united in their hatred of dynamic ticket surging. We discuss the urgent need for primary market transparency and why standard &quot;free-market&quot; arguments don&#39;t apply to the emotional experience of a gig.</p></li><li><p><strong>Shain Shapiro breaks down how society has prioritised</strong> the passive consumption of music (the noun) while deprioritising community participation (the verb), leading to the isolation of modern music fans.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why you should know your ward councillor</strong>. Shain outlines how forming local &quot;Music Fan Associations&quot; can force local councils to unlock underutilised property and rethink how spaces are used.</p></li><li><p><strong>The 24-Hour Dictators:</strong> Both guests flex their imaginary emergency powers to fix the ecosystem, including slashing VAT on tickets, restructuring property business rates, and mandating grassroots funding.</p></li></ul><p><strong>As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular</strong> – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!</p><p>Email us: <a href="mailto:thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="mailto:thepriceofmusicpodcast@gm