LIVE Trust is delivering for the grassroots

LIVE Trust has received strong backing from the sector since its launch, with over 5 million in pledges secured as of April 2026. We're gearing up to distribute more funding, thanks to working with 10 promoters on over 75 tours and events through 2026. This includes Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Take That, Bastille, Olivia Dean, Foo Fighters, Lilly Allen and more, all contributing over the summer. 
 
Money raised from the first shows is already being distributed to support those who are keeping venues open, festivals trading, artists touring and all those involved in the promoting and staging of live music performances. In recent weeks there have been a number of announcements:

• Make Noise: Production Futures announced the launch of its Make Noise initiative which is aimed at 12–18-year-olds to promote careers in production and live events. There are so many roles in the live music sector that often go unnoticed. Giving young people visibility of those roles, along with the opportunity to build their skills, networks and develop their early careers, is key to building a sustainable future for our industry. 
• UK Artists Touring Fund (UKAT): The Featured Artists Coalition announced the first beneficiaries of the UKAT – 26 artists, supporting 211 shows at grassroots venues across the UK. Developed in partnership with the Music Managers Forum and the Musicians' Union, UKAT is enabling artists to tour in the way they want and gives audiences in towns and cities across the UK the chance to see shows that would otherwise have not been possible.

• Music Venues Trust (MVT): MVT launched several initiatives designed to tackle the long-term economic challenges facing grassroots music venues across the UK. This includes the ‘Raise The Standard’ initiative focused on upgrading the physical and operational foundations of venues; the ‘Off The Grid’ programme to address high energy costs; the Stay The Night’ initiative to help with artist accommodation; and the ‘Feel At Home’ initiative to addresses backstage areas and other artist facilities. 

LIVE Trust raises money for grassroots venues, festivals, promoters and artists. But right now, for every £500k received, £125,000 has been taken by the Government in VAT. That is money stripped directly from those it was raised for, and it’s a situation that undermines the Government’s own objectives to improve the grassroots live music sector. LIVE Trust is calling on Government to return the VAT taken on the ticket contribution, ensuring that 100% of every £1 pledged reaches the grassroots sector it was intended to support.

LIVE Trust welcomes fan-led review

On Friday 17 April, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee published its fan-led review of live and electronic music. The review highlighted fan support for grassroots funding initiatives like LIVE Trust. In response to this, Kirsty McShannon, Chair of LIVE Trust said: “It’s brilliant that this fan-led review highlights the strength of support from fans for grassroots funding initiatives like LIVE Trust. The millions generated by tours supporting LIVE Trust are already funding a wide range of programmes benefitting artists, festivals, venues, promoters, event professionals, and young people building careers in the industry.” The review also reflected calls for proper legislation on secondary ticketing. In response to the review Jon Collins, CEO of LIVE, said: “The strong demand from fans for new laws to finally tackle ticket touts demonstrated in this review should encourage Ministers to ensure legislation is introduced as a matter of urgency.”

Pressure grows on Government to tackle touts 

We are disappointed to read growing rumours that the promised legislation to tackle touts will appear in the King’s Speech as draft legislation, meaning it is unlikely to become law until the 2027/28 Parliamentary session.
 
Representative organisations for the live music sector, including LIVE wrote to the Business Secretary Peter Kyle and the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, and many of the same organisations backed the consumer champion Which?’s letter to the Prime Minister on this issue.
 
The Government must bring forward this legislation in full in the King’s Speech or risk allowing touts to continue ripping off both fans and artists. 

LIVE Green celebrates Earth Day 

On 22 April, LIVE Green celebrated Earth Day by highlighting the work industry is doing to protect the planet and build a sustainable music sector. There were a number of excellent announcements from webinars to training sessions to industry reports and more. One key date for diaries is Wednesday 24 June: LIVE have programmed a Greening the Live Music & Events Industry panel featuring LIVE, AIF, MVT and AEG at EARTHFEST’s Music & Entertainment Day. To join LIVE’s own Ross Patel and fellow panellists at a discounted rate, use code LIVEGREEN15. 
 
Register here. 
 
You can read the full roster of announcements in our LIVE Green newsletter, available here. 

LIVE Touring calls on Government to address cancelled cruise performances

LIVE Touring has written to the Home Office, DCMS and DBT on the increasing number of music artists forced to cancel cruise appearances after being caught up in, in our view, and overly restrictive interpretation of the requirements of the EES system. LIVE has learned that one management company recently had to cancel 18 cruises for three of their acts after being told that if they embark and disembark a ship in Southampton, which then heads to Europe, the 90/180 days ruling then impacts the guest entertainers. Under current provisions, guest entertainers have been caught up in the wider ramifications of EES and become victims of unintended consequences. LIVE is asking Government to clarify matters and, if needed, seek an exemption for touring artists and protect the jobs and livelihoods of British performers.