LIVE Trust: First Grant Making Strategy Set Out

The LIVE Trust has published its initial grant making strategy detailing its approach to investing in programmes that benefit grassroots venues, artists, promoters, and festivals.  This paper covers the Trust’s planned activities running up to the awarding of the first grants, expected in January 2026.The strategy builds on principles set out by LIVE when establishing the LIVE Trust and draws on input from trustees, sector bodies, policymakers, and grassroots practitioners from across the UK.  It sets out how the Trust will use the first wave of funds generated from tours building the £1 contribution into performances at venues over 5,000 capacity (increasingly the norm for qualifying shows).In this round, the Trust will fund up to six programmes.  Funded organisations will already exist and have the ability to deliver impactful programmes as soon as possible.  We will ensure funded programmes are benefiting diverse communities across the UK and supporting grassroots music scenes across all aspects of the ecosystem.

For the avoidance of doubt, the LIVE Trust is not seeking applications from individual venues, artists, promoters, or festivals.  We are looking to work with those organisations that are best placed to understand and deliver interventions that build resilience and capacity across the grassroots.Commenting on the strategy, Kirsty McShannon, Chair of the LIVE Trust said, “I would like to thank my fellow trustees and the LIVE Trust team for their diligence and professionalism in formulating this strategy.  We want the Trust to move with speed and agility while recognising that processes must be robust and transparent.  This strategy helps us meet that objective and we look forward to assessing applications from qualifying organisations and programmes.”

LIVE’s 15 members unite behind Seat at the Table Inclusion Pledge; industry supporters sign up

Following the release of Seat at the Table: LIVE Edition 2025, all 15 LIVE member organisations have now signed the new Seat at the Table Inclusion Pledge - a landmark, sector-wide commitment to achieving gender-balanced leadership by 2030.The pledge sets out clear goals to improve gender and intersectional ethnic diversity in senior leadership across the UK live music industry, with each signatory committing to their own measurable targets with annual progress check-ins and shared learning across the sector.

Alongside LIVE’s members, industry organisations including ATC Live and Ginger Owl have joined the pledge, with AEG, The O2, and The Royal Albert Hall stepping up as Industry Champions to share best practice and support others on their journey toward equity.Aligned with LIVE’s 2030 inclusion targets - 50% women and non-binary representation, and 16% women from global majority backgrounds in leadership roles - the pledge encourages action on governance, recruitment, mentoring, and inclusive programming. This collective effort marks a major step forward for our sector. Gaby Cartwright, Head of Partnerships at LIVE said, "This is the first time the live music industry has come together in this way, and the first time it has collectively committed to measurable inclusion targets. We want to position the Seat at the Table Inclusion pledge as a proactive, collective shift from data to delivery. The report and the pledge are the foundation, but the real story is about who is taking action and how the sector is evolving together. The organisations who have signed the pledge as well as our industry champions will be key to helping to shape what inclusion looks like in practice across the live music ecosystem.”

A link to the full Seat at the Table 2025 report can be found here.

LIVE Workforce: CIISA Briefing for LIVE members

Date: Wednesday 29 October, 11am-12pm

Location: Online, access the Zoom link here

Please 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. As part of this work, LIVE’s Head of Partnerships, Gaby Cartwright, headed to Westminster this week to brief key advisers and leading policymakers. The discussions were constructive and helped shine a spotlight on the scale of the challenge, and on LIVE’s commitment to tackling it head-on.

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 Talks: From Momentum to Movement - Breaking Barriers in South Asian Live Music, Hosted by Sania Haq

Date: 11th November, 2025

Time: 12pm - 1pm UK

Location: Online, Zoom

SIGN UP FOR FREE HERE

Session Overview:

Over the past year, South Asian live music has continued to grow in visibility, with artists selling out major UK venues and curated spaces at festivals spotlighting South Asian creativity. Yet behind the highlights, many barriers remain, particularly for UK-based diaspora artists navigating an uneven playing field. In this follow-up to 2024's "From Melas to Stadiums" session, award-winning inclusion specialist and music researcher Sania Haq returns to explore how we can move beyond celebration to sustainable change. From breaking bottlenecks in the talent pipeline to addressing affordability and audience demand, this session will unpack the practical steps needed to support South Asian live music at every level. Whether you're an established promoter, venue manager, funder, or working within South Asian music (as an artist, manager or cultural curator), this session will provide a much-needed space to reflect, connect, and plan forward.

Join us for an honest, action-focused conversation about identity, access, and opportunities in live music, with space for Q&A and idea-sharing.

For more information, head to www.livemusic.biz/live-talks

LIVE Venues: Martyn’s Law Webinar this Monday

Date: Monday 27 October, 2pm-3pm

Location: Online, access the Teams link here

Please rsvp to claire@livemusic.biz 

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.  In addition to useful publications such as a new Martyn's Law Myth Buster the Home Office team and LIVE have put together a webinar to address these issues and more while providing you, if time allows, with an opportunity to pose questions to those in the know.  The Webinar will: provide an overview of the Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025; outline what it means for all premises and events in scope; and, provide information on next steps.  Please do register on the link above and, for more information on the Act, take a look at Martyn’s Law overview and what you need to know and the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: factsheets.

Help shape new research on the impact of the UK Outdoor Events Industry

LIVE are calling on the industry to get behind a new research project that will demonstrate the true economic and social value of the UK’s Outdoor Events sector. Funded by The Purple Guide and the Events Industry Forum, and delivered by The Power of Events, this study will provide credible, independent evidence to strengthen advocacy, policy, and investment across our sector. Outdoor event organisers are invited to submit details of their events — not organisational data, just key event information such as size, type, audience, staffing, and turnover. Every response will help build a clearer picture of the huge value our industry delivers to communities, businesses, and local economies.

How to take part:

Download the Event Industry Insights App to access the research.

Share the link with your members and networks and encourage them to take part.

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential.

A follow-up survey focusing on the outdoor events supply chain will launch in November, and we’ll be asking for your help again then to spread the word.

For questions or to request a short briefing to share with your members, contact claire@thepowerofevents.org.