Christopher BarrettArtists representative body the Featured Artist Coalition (FAC) has launched a UK Artist Touring Fund (UKAT) designed to help bridge shortfalls in budgets for grassroots shows.
FAC said the Fund will provide a vehicle to distribute revenue allocated for grassroots artists from a new ticket levy on large-capacity live events collected by the LIVE Trust. The initiative has been developed in partnership with the Musicians’ Union (MU) and Music Managers Forum (MMF), with the aim that the fund also helps support the wider live ecosystem including session musicians and managers.
The announcement follows the recent launch of the LIVE Trust, a new industry-supported charity set up to receive and administer proceeds from a voluntary £1 ticket donation on UK stadium and arena shows over a 5,000 capacity.
Following Government-backed recommendations by MPs on the Culture Media & Sport Committee, this revenue will be used to help mitigate the ‘cost of touring crisis’ in grassroots live music. Since artists are the sector’s biggest employers, with responsibility for paying their wider teams and partners, their financial situation is particularly acute.
In a recent survey of 1,500 independent artists by Ditto Music, 84% of UK-based respondents said they could not currently afford to tour.
FAC said that via a transparent application process, open for artists, DJs and other music performers, the fund will help reconcile and bridge short-falls in touring budgets – stimulating new economic activity that will help develop artist careers and attract new audiences.
The UKAT Fund will be open to receive one-off donations and commercial support for those who wish to invest directly in UK talent. Further details of the fund can be found here.
FAC CEO David Martin said, “The FAC has established the UKAT Fund in preparation for when the LIVE Trust becomes operational and starts to distribute revenue from the incoming ticket contributions. It will ensure that any funding allocated for grassroots artists can be distributed in the most effective, transparent and efficient way possible. By helping keep shows on the road, our three fundamental aims are to support artist development, boost audience engagement and help sustain the wider live music supply chain.”
LIVE CEO Jon Collins said addressing the crisis in grassroots music requires all parts of the UK live music industry to play their part in generating funds, identifying solutions, and driving support to those who need it most: “As LIVE board members, we already work closely with FAC, MMF and the MU and we look forward to learning more about the UKAT Fund as plans are put in place. Momentum is building behind the LIVE Trust, and we would encourage all who are involved in arena and stadia shows to offer their support. Funds generated will be passed through to expert programmes such as this to maximise impact and accelerate their excellent work.”