Christopher BarrettGrassroots venues are to be the major beneficiaries of the first distribution by the LIVE Trust, while independent festivals are allocated £50,000.
Launched in January last year, the LIVE Trust was pledged £500,000 within the first three months, with funds 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 following the first distribution of £500,000, it will issue further funding rounds throughout this year.
LIVE said millions of pounds have already been committed to the LIVE Trust from forthcoming arena and stadium shows, and that the funding is being distributed to music industry organisations that can have an immediate and positive impact across the grassroots music sector.
While grassroots venues charity the Music Venue Trust has been allocated £200,000, and £125,000 has been set aside for the UK Artists Touring Fund delivered by the Featured Artists Coalition, Music Managers Forum and the Musicians’ Union, the Association of Independent Festivals has been given £50,000 for its Micro & Very Small Festivals Development Programme.
AIF’s programme has been created to support grassroots festival organisers across the UK by providing training, resources, skills development, and ongoing marketing, ticketing, and peer support.
LIVE said, “Micro and very small festivals are at the sharpest end of the grassroots festival sector. They may be small in size, but they are strong in number – with up to 300 taking place every year.”
Grassroots promoters are also being targeted with LIVE Trust funding via the Association of Independent Promoters’ Independent Promoters Grassroots Bursary Scheme, which will receive £75,000. LIVE said the scheme will empower new and emerging promoters to deliver events that would typically be deemed to carry too much risk: “Working across all UK regions, the programme will strengthen the live music pipeline, and increase diversity, accessibility, and innovation in promoting.”
Other beneficiaries include the Volume Control initiative delivered by the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast, which is said to create pathways into the music and live events industry in Northern Ireland for aspiring artists, promoters and backstage professionals.
Music Futures, delivered by Production Futures, has been allocated £10,000. Working with secondary school-aged people and those not currently in education, employment, or training, LIVE said the programme will provide practical experience and career exploration opportunities.
“It has been quite a journey over the last year as we registered the Trust with the Charity Commission, appointed trustees, developed a grant making strategy and built support across UK live music,” said LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “I would like to thank the LIVE Board, our trustees and every promoter, manager, venue, agent and artist that has stepped forward in support of this vital work.”
“It is brilliant to see those at the top of the business are supporting the grassroots and shoring up the pipeline of British talent,” said Creative Industries minister Ian Murray. “This initiative, which the government has played an active role in encouraging uptake of, will help secure this talent pipeline for the future. I would continue to urge all major players in the music industry to get involved, to bolster the grassroots and secure the British stars of the future.”
Image (left to right) Chair of LIVE and LIVE Trust trustee Steve Lamacq; LIVE & LIVE Trust CEO Jon Collins and LIVE Trust chair Kirsty McShannon.