Final Call: Get Your LIVE Awards Nominations In Before Midnight!

Today is your last chance to submit nominations for the LIVE Awards 2025 - celebrating the very best of the UK’s live music industry.  Nominations close at midnight tonight, so don’t miss your opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people, places and organisations that make our sector thrive. From promoters and festivals to grassroots venues, ticketing innovators and sustainability champions, the LIVE Awards recognise excellence across every corner of the live music ecosystem.

The full list of categories are:

The LIVE Workforce Award

The LIVE Green Award

Venue of the Year

Grassroots Champion

Booking Agency x 2 categories

Regional Promoter of the Year

National Promoter of the Year

Ticketing Service 2025

Major Festival of the Year

Festival of the Year

Production Supplier 2025

Road Warrior of the Year

Backstage Brilliance Award 

Deadline: Midnight tonight

Submit your nominations now

Don’t miss out - this is your final chance to be part of the biggest celebration of live music professionals in the UK!

Tickets and tables are available for purchase here.

LIVE Main: almost 100 supporters join packed update

It was great to see another packed online audience of LIVE members and supporters for the latest LIVE Main meeting – bringing together all of LIVE’s workstreams into one, increasingly sizeable, download.  Overseen by LIVE Chair, Steve Lamacq, the session covered the output from LIVE’s expert groups, our LIVE Talks programme, latest LIVE Insights research and promo’d the LIVE Awards.

It is difficult to pick out the highlights from such a packed programme but, three issues seemed to resonate in particular with attendees:

LIVE Trust – members got to know LIVE Chair, Kirsty McShannon and Senior Programme Manager, Antonia Lines to hear the very latest on plans for grant making.

LIVE Touring – the complex but hugely important task of securing new touring arrangements in the EU.  We have won the argument in the UK, now we need to galvanise the EU into action.

LIVE Festivals/Venues – a discussion on the recent pressure placed on all parties (from venue operators and festival organisers to artists and their teams) given the heightened interest in (and monitoring of) political expression from the stage.  All agreed that this, all too often excessive, pressure (be it online or from regulators) is unacceptable and supported LIVE’s proposal to develop sector guidance and look to work with regulators.

If you would like to join the next LIVE Main meeting then please send an expression of interest. 

LIVE Venues/Festivals: Licensing Call for Evidence

Earlier this year, LIVE was delighted to work with officials across multiple Government departments on a ‘Licensing Sprint’ designed to deliver a better trading environment for venues and festivals.  Having produced a set of recommendations in record time, it was pleasing to see the Government indicate broad support and a desire to make changes as rapidly as possible.  To that end, the Home Office has now issued a call for evidence on a series of exciting proposals that should reduce costs, offer more certainty and promote licensing as a positive, business boosting instrument.  

Across a comprehensive document, particular highlights include:

Festivals and Events - the government aims to support investment in festivals with a more effective, and lighter touch approach to licensing.  This could include longer-term or perpetual licences for recurring festivals to support investment and planning. 

Evidence and Data – Government is considering developing a national protocol to standardise evidential requirements, promote mediation and clarify objection procedures.  Any changes would be intended to reduce costly disputes, improve transparency and ensure decisions are proportionate and legally sound.

Agent of Change - Government is considering how AoC is currently applied in licensing to better protect existing licensed premises (including theatres, music and sporting venues) and residents.  Local authorities are able to incorporate AoC into their statements of licensing policy but Government wants to understand whether it would be beneficial to strengthen this approach.

Hospitality, Leisure & Cultural Zones - Government would like to explore how zoning might be used by local authorities in hospitality, leisure and cultural areas to help develop, preserve and manage vibrant night-time economies, while continuing to protect local communities. 

National Licensing Policy Framework - The Government envisages drafting an LPF that would establish a consistent, transparent, and strategically aligned licensing system that empowers local authorities while supporting national goals for economic growth, cultural development and community wellbeing.

Blanket Policies - the government's aim is to prevent outdated restrictions remaining on businesses indefinitely.  This could include, for example, the need to undertake an assessment to ensure any blanket approach is proportionate, or a requirement to review impact before terminating or extending a policy. 

Condition Amnesty - The Government envisages a process whereby licence holders would be encouraged to work with the police and council to remove unnecessary, probably historic licence conditions that, by their very existence, increase regulatory uncertainty and compliance costs without delivering any benefit.  

Newspaper Ads – Government aims to end the requirement for printed statutory notices for alcohol licences.  Removing a cost that delivers little to no value in the licensing process given the decline in newspaper readership.  

Outdoor Spaces – Government aims to improve and simplify the current system for outdoor trading and pavement licences, removing barriers to using outdoor space while maintaining safeguards.

Temporary Event Notices – Government proposes increasing the number of notices and days covered in order to support venues hosting community events.

Commenting for LIVE, Jon Collins said “This is the next step towards a stronger, more stable and enabling trading environment across the country.  This is exactly the sort of positive, business boosting work we were looking to flow from our sector’s inclusion in the Industrial Strategy.  A positive recognition of the role of live music, greater protection from spurious complaints and an improved ability to plan longer term will all allow us to do more, delight more and deliver economic growth”.

LIVE Talks with Ecotricity: Powering a Greener Future for Live Events

In a world where every gathering leaves a footprint, the live music industry stands at a powerful crossroads.  LIVE’s latest talk, held in partnership with Ecotricity Business, brought together leading voices from across the sector to explore how live music is taking meaningful steps toward sustainability - from grassroots venues to major festivals. Guest speakers Paul Bowtell and Antony Wolowiec (Ecotricity), Jamal Chalabi (Backlash Productions and  Head of A Greener Touring at A Greener Future) and James Gillaspy (Future Yard) shared practical insights and inspiring stories on how to make greener choices in power, travel, food, and waste management.

Watch the LIVE Talks session back here.

LIVE is also thrilled to see this momentum reflected across the industry, with the recent announcement that AEG venues, including The O2, have moved to Ecotricity to power their venues with 100% deep green energy.  It is a landmark step that demonstrates what is possible when the live sector commits to meaningful climate action - and an inspiring example of leadership in powering the future of live entertainment sustainably.A kick-start to the Live Event Energy Scheme, which LIVE, AGF and MVT have partnered with Ecotricity Business on. LEES is a new energy basket model, helping venues across the UK access affordable, sustainable energy. Click here for more information.

Secondary Ticketing: Minister commits to tackling touts 

In a real statement of intent, new Culture Minister, Rt Hon Ian Murray MP has doubled down on his commitment to tackling current abuses in the secondary ticketing market.  Writing in the Daily Record, Mr Murray has said that "Time is up for touts and dodgy resale platforms", vowing to bring in a ticket resale cap and to empower the Serious Fraud Office “to act against platforms that fleece fans”.

LIVE has long campaigned for this sort of intervention so it is a real positive to see the Minister make these commitments.  Having consulted on this issue earlier this year, we are waiting for a formal Government announcement of their plans (which should include legislation at the earliest opportunity).  As the Minister notes in his article, a cap on resale prices, tighter requirements on resale sites (which will not be a problem for the majority of the market) and resourcing the SFO and CMA to act will all mean fair prices for fans, fair treatment for artists and “a future where gigs are for the people who love them — not for profiteers”.

LIVE Workforce: CIISA Briefing for LIVE members

Date: Wednesday 29 October, 11am-12pm

Location: Online, access the Zoom link here

RSVP to claire@livemusic.biz 

The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) aims to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment, including discriminatory behaviour, across the UK’s creative industries (initially film, television, theatre and music). It will provide a safe, impartial place where individuals and organisations can seek confidential advice, report concerns and access support services. Earlier this year, CIISA launched the industry-endorsed CIISA Standards, which set out the minimum standards of behaviour expected to enable safe and inclusive working environments. CIISA and its Standards are recommended interventions in the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan and in two reports on Misogyny in Music by the Women and Equalities Select Committee.

During this webinar Jen Smith, CEO of CIISA, will give an overview of CIISA’s aims and key timelines, and Niyi Akeju, Head of Standards Development & Stakeholder Engagement at CIISA, will explain the CIISA Standards and how they are being embedded by industry.

To learn more about CIISA, and to read the CIISA Standards, visit: www.ciisa.org.uk

LIVE Venues: Martyn’s Law mythbuster and webinar

With the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act having completed its passage through Parliament, work is now focused on developing the new inspectorate, working practices and venue guidance.  Importantly, the Home Office has recognised there is a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about the Act and are looking to counter it in a number of ways.  First, the publication of a new Martyn's Law Myth Buster which offers clear advice on the scope of the new law and the timings for its implementation.  As we have previously stated, this law will not be in place until mid-2027 at the earliest.

In addition, the Home Office team and LIVE are putting together a webinar to address these issues and more while providing you with an opportunity to pose questions to those in the know.  Look out for a separate email soon providing further information on that session.

LIVE Policy: packed Labour conference agenda provides opportunities to build support

Taken in isolation, the annual party conferences can be nothing more than an expensive way to try and grab 5 minutes with politicians and advisers you can see all year round in Westminster.  Fortunately, that is not LIVE’s approach.  We use conference as an opportunity to solidify existing relationships, prompt action on live topics and broaden support for our priority issues.  And the recent Labour conference was a great case in point as LIVE was invited to participate in (and help organise) a high level meeting between EU Ambassador to the UK, Pedro Serrano and former Culture Minister, now Trade Minister, Sir Chris Bryant MP.  Focusing in on the value of cultural exchange and the commitment by both the Government and Commission to support touring, the session was a great opportunity to understand the EU’s position and build a coalition for reform.

Also at Labour, LIVE was pleased to join a roundtable on how Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region can do more to support music.  With attendees from across our sector plus policymakers, council leaders and MPs, the session covered everything from supporting grassroots music to removing barriers to growth for our largest venues and events.

Venues urge Government to rethink tax hike ahead of critical Autumn Budget

LIVE, NAA, MVT, BACH have this week written to Government calling for an exemption for live music venues from the new higher business rates multiplier for large properties. The letter highlights how the current design of the policy penalises live music venues, ignoring the significant economic, social, and cultural benefits venues deliver to communities and high streets across the UK. The letter was covered in today's edition of The Sun and in Politico London Playbook, and LIVE and its members will be working hard in the run up to the Budget to pressure Government to act on this issue.