The gesture applies to both Hull gigs as well as a run of Wembley performances
Last September, Coldplay placed a poster in the window of the Dublin Castle in Camden, London – the scene of the first ever Coldplay show, in February 1998. It revealed the locations of the band’s upcoming 2025 UK stadium dates.
It also noted the fact that 10 per cent of the band’s proceeds from those shows will be donated to Music Venue Trust (MVT). The charity works to protect, secure and improve UK grassroots music venues for the benefit of venues, communities and upcoming artists.
This donation from those 12 shows in Hull and London – for which the 800,000 tickets sold out within hours – will help fund MVT’s vital work. Donations will also be made to MVT by the concerts’ promoters (SJM Concerts, Metropolis Music and Live Nation); the band’s booking agent (WME), the venues (Wembley Stadium and Sewell Group Craven Park) and the official ticket agents (Ticketmaster, See Tickets and AXS).
Here, a spokesperson for MVT explains the background to the support Coldplay is providing for the charity, and the difference it will make.
Why are Coldplay supporting grassroots music venues?
Grassroots venues are where it all begins. Coldplay know first-hand that without these spaces, where artists write their earliest songs, meet their bandmates, and play their first gigs, hone their craft, and build their audience, there is no live music ecosystem.
Supporting grassroots is about honouring the journey, protecting the culture, and ensuring future generations have the same opportunities.
What are Coldplay doing?
Coldplay have committed to 10 per cent of the band’s proceeds from their UK Hull and Wembley shows being donated to MVT. The band are investing directly back into the grassroots music sector to support venues, promoters and artists starting their careers.
What will this money do?
Funds raised go directly to MVT, a charity that supports venues at risk, invests in artist touring, and campaigns for long-term change. Since July 2014, MVT has raised and invested over £7m into grassroots venues, artists, and promoters. This total includes:
- Direct venue grants (Emergency Hardship Relief)
- Touring support (Revive Live, MVT Cohorts)
- Ownership initiatives (Music Venue Properties)
- Infrastructure & training (Pipeline Investment Fund, now re-named Liveline Fund)
Why do grassroots venues matter so much?
The UK’s grassroots scene is one of the most exciting and dynamic in the world. In 2024 alone:
- 810 venues across the UK hosted
- 162,092 events, with
- 1.49 million individual artist performances and
- 19.4 million audience visits
These venues are the Research & Development labs of music. They are where culture is made, across every town and city.
What’s the scale of the challenge?
Despite their cultural value, grassroots venues operate on razor-thin margins (average profit just 0.48 per cent). In 2024:
- Over 200 venues (24.9 per cent) reached out to MVT for help to avoid closure
- 43.8 per cent of venues reported a financial loss
- National tour routes shrank again – places including Hull, Bath and Newport dropped off entirely
- Public demand remains high, but venues struggle to meet it without support
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What is Music Venue Trust and why did Coldplay choose them?
MVT is a UK charity leading the charge to protect and improve grassroots venues. Their impact includes:
- A 97.6 per cent success rate in planning objections that threaten venues
- Over £572,000 in emergency hardship grants to keep venues open
- Launching Music Venue Properties, a “National Trust for Music Venues” model that has already purchased five venues
- Teaming up with Save Our Scene UK to create the Liveline Fund, uniting all grassroots investment efforts under one powerful umbrella
They are passionate, strategic, and rooted in the same community spirit that drives live music itself.
What can fans do to help?
Attend grassroots gigs. Share your love for your local venue. Donate to MVT.
Every fan who walks through the door of a grassroots music venue is part of this story. Coldplay fans are already making a huge difference, and the future of live music thanks you.