The ticket touting scandal is reaching a boiling point. On Tuesday, singer Raye shared on social media that the sign-up process for her upcoming 5,000-seat orchestral concert had been overwhelmed by thousands of ticket scalpers using AI bots. Unfortunately, this isn’t new.

Fans have waited far too long for protections against touts and, as Raye says, they are only getting bolder now they have AI bots on their side. Every fan deserves the chance to see their favourite artists live. Right now, they’re being unfairly priced out.

Government must bring forward the Draft Ticket Tout Ban Bill and deliver on its promises.

Culture is not a risk.
Culture is an economic asset.

This Wednesday, Black Lives in Music published the REMEL report, Race Equality in Music Event Licensing: the most comprehensive examination yet of how licensing, regulation and policing shape the experiences of Black and South Asian communities across London's live music sector. 

Produced with LIVE and the Musicians' Union alongside the Greater London Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service, the evidence is clear:

• Black and South Asian led events face disproportionate scrutiny, restrictions and cancellations
• An estimated £127 million to £141 million in live music spend is lost every year, and more than £650 million over five years
• Safety and equality are not competing priorities

LIVE is proud to be a partner in this project, and we encourage industry to share its findings and adopt the REMEL principles. 

Read and share the report here, free to download, with no sign-up required. 

ICYMI: LIVE Talks explores sustainability for live music venues

At the end of September, we held another LIVE Talks webinar - this time in partnership with Ecotricity Business and MVT, hosted by LIVE Green's Ross Patel. As part of the session, Ecotricity Business shared insights into the wider energy landscape, key trends shaping the market, and what it all means for venues, festivals, and cultural organisations navigating an increasingly complex operating environment.

As well as exploring how organisations can balance commercial pressures with their sustainability ambitions, they spoke about the Live Events Energy Scheme (LEES). Developed in collaboration with A Greener Future, LIVE and Music Venues Trust, LEES combines renewable energy with sector-focused knowledge, guidance and best practice to bring deep green energy to cultural organisations as they journey to net zero.

If you're looking for a practical way to strengthen your sustainability credentials, then LEES provides a tailored way forward. Visit The Live Events Energy Scheme to learn more.

Additionally, MVT spoke about their Everywhere At Once Festival, which brought live music to hundreds of grassroots venues across the UK, raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust, War Child, Help Musicians, and Nordoff & Robbins. Mark Davyd highlighted the high attendance and engagement from the public, demonstrating the appetite for access to music in their local communities. 

We thank our speakers, Barnaby Harrison (Ecotricity Business), Mark Davyd (MVT), Lala Oyegun (MVT), and Craig Pennington (Future Yard). Watch the recording to hear more!

Join the team - LIVE Trust now hiring!

We’re looking for a Grants & Impact Manager to help shape how grassroots music gets funded across the UK.  Full time. £35-40k. Remote with UK travel.

Applications close on Monday 19 October at 5pm. For more details, please see the full application here.

Last chance to apply - LIVE Awards nominations closing soon!

It’s your last chance to nominate for the 2026 LIVE Awards as the window has been extended to Monday 19 October!

The LIVE Awards, in association with Skiddle, exist to lift up those who keep every corner of the UK’s music scene alive and thriving. Nobody’s too big or too small – there’s a category for everybody. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work that you or your organisation have done this year.

This entry process is an opportunity to highlight your key achievements and successes. This is your chance to bring attention to your business and its activities, getting deserved recognition and reward from others both in the live music business and beyond. Submit a nomination for free here.

LIVE calls for universal reduction on business rates for music venues

As we approach the Autumn Budget, LIVE are making the case for all venues to receive Government’s 20% business rates cut announced in July. At prsent, no clear threshold has been set, and it is essential that all venues are encompassed in the cut – as they were when the initial reduction was made in January.

LIVE’s logic is simple; all venues drive footfall to the high street and bring cultural and social value, so all venues should benefit from the second cut. LIVE are encouraging members to write to their MPs to make this case and ensure Government continues to protect the venues that form the fabric of the live music industry.

LIVE Trust at SMIA Summit

LIVE Trust took part in a roundtable at the SMIA Summit in Glasgow, which highlighted the brilliant work of various organisations in the city and beyond.

Antonia Lines, Senior Programmes Manager for LIVE Trust, says "It's spaces like this where we are able to listen to the challenges for grassroots music in different regions, which helps us build our funding strategies. We'll keep attending sessions like this one, and run our own, as we continue building LIVE Trust to protect, expand, and support grassroots music across the UK. Thanks to the SMIA for having us along!"

If you're interested in having LIVE Trust at any of your conferences or events, or want to see them in your region, get in touch with the team at admin@livetrust.org. 

LIVE briefed by Minister on EU touring

LIVE's Jon Collins took part in a briefing with EU Minister, Hamish Falconer MP this week at the latest meeting of the UK Domestic Advisory Group (the body overseeing arrangements with the EU). Asked for an update by the MU's Head of International (and Chair, LIVE Touring) Dave Webster, the Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to securing improved touring arrangements for artists and crew. Falconer went on to note that, while Government remains committed, the barriers put in place by Brexit are complex and reform is not straightforward.

This latest update follows on from the recently published research setting out how the current touring arrangements cost EU businesses over £1 billion between 2022-24. It also builds on comments made by PM Andy Burnham in Parliament this week that he would like "to see a return to visa-free access to Europe for British musicians".