Christopher BarrettOn the back of its first distribution in January that saw £500,000 channelled into supporting 372 venues, 211 shows and 81 festivals, the LIVE Trust has announced a further £1 million is forthcoming.
Among the key beneficiaries is the Association of Independent Festivals’ Festival MOT Programme, which is described as “a diagnostic service for independent music festivals in crisis”. It said the festival MOT will provide a report, resources and support for festivals across the UK.
Launched in January last year, the LIVE Trust announced its ‘phase one’ distribution of £500,000 a year later, and is now following that with a ‘phase two’ distribution of £1m. The funds are generated from a voluntary ticket levy of £1 per ticket sold for shows at venues with a capacity of more than 5,000.
LIVE said that since the Trust was launched, it has secured more than 6 million ticket pledges, working with 10 promoters across more than 100 tours. “Less than a year since LIVE Trust’s first meeting, the latest figures highlight the rapid and continuing growth in support for an industry-led funding model for grassroots live music,” said a spokesperson.
The live music industry representative body outlined that the second phase of its LIVE Trust funding distribution would again be concentrated on supporting the grassroots sector across festivals, venues, promoters and artists. There will be continued support for phase one partners – Music Venue Trust, UK Artist Touring Fund, the Association of Independent Promoters and the Association of Independent Festivals – but LIVE is also channelling the funding to new partners.
New recipients include Anthem Wales, Attitude is Everything, Back Up Tech, Black Lives in Music, Youth Music and Help Musicians.
“In just over a year, LIVE Trust has shown what the live music industry can achieve when it works together,” said LIVE Trust chair Kirsty McShannon: “We set out to create a long-term way of supporting grassroots live music and the response has been overwhelming. Every artist, promoter, venue, and festival that contributes helps secure the future of live music across the UK.”
LIVE Trust CEO Jon Collins said, “We are incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead, and I would like to thank every promoter, manager, venue, agent, and artist who has stepped forward to support this vital work.”