LIVE Trust passes 4m pledged tickets as Harry Styles comes on board

A really positive week for the LIVE Trust was made even more so with the news that the Harry Styles shows would be carrying the £1 on his UK residency, helping us protect, expand and support the whole grassroots music sector.  LIVE Trust’s ever expanding roster of support, most recently incorporating Olivia Dean, Only The Poets, Bastille, Florence + The Machine and Lily Allen takes total pledged tickets past the four million mark.

As a reminder, LIVE Trust is the UK live music industry’s response to the challenges in grassroots music.  The Trust recently announced the first wave of funded programmes through its phase one grant strategy.  A UK-wide roster of programmes in support of grassroots music has received funding, which comes from a contribution of £1 per ticket on shows over 5000 capacity.

This support is being placed with expert live music industry organisations, delivering programmes that will have an immediate and positive impact across grassroots music in the UK.  Each organisation has set out exciting plans for specific programmes of activity and support, across festivals, promoters, artists, venues, production, audience development and more.

LIVE Trust will be announcing further funding rounds throughout the year.  For more information sign up to our mailing list.

PRS show their support for LIVE Trust 

LIVE Trust is founded on a spirit of cross sector partnership and cooperation as we look to all involved in shows over 5,000 capacity (promoters, agents, managers, artists, festivals and venues) to make a shared commitment to our objectives.  That partnership has extended to our colleagues at PRS for Music who, having operated an informal policy since day one, have now ratified that the voluntary payment received by the Trust will not be included in its licence fee calculations, making sure every penny is protected for grassroots music.  Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music said, “Grassroots venues are where songs become livelihoods.  We’re backing the LIVE Trust funding mechanic to ensure that every penny is reinvested in the ecosystem that benefits everyone, from promoters and venues to emerging artists and songwriters across the UK.  As a member-owned organisation, we know a stronger grassroots circuit means more gigs, more audiences, more music being performed and ultimately more royalties flowing to writers in the long run.”

LIVE Trust Chair, Kirsty McShannon added, “We’re extremely grateful to PRS for Music for agreeing to waive PRS fees on the £1 from every ticket that supports LIVE Trust.  This is a meaningful step that will ensure more of that £1 reaches grassroots music.  The voluntary contribution depends on collective action across the live music ecosystem.  By listening to industry feedback and removing this layer of cost, PRS has taken a significant step towards making the initiative more workable in practice — helping to reduce barriers and reinforcing a shared commitment to the grassroots sector that underpins the entire industry.”

Show Must Go On launched in Parliament

LIVE was delighted to participate in the launch of the third iteration of the Show Must Go On report in the House of Commons this week.  Having chaired the main working group and played a convening role in the process, we are proud of what has been delivered - a state-of-the industry report and climate transition plan for the UK Outdoor Event Industry, following unprecedented industry-wide collaboration.

SMGO’s Climate Transition Plan 2030 sets out an ambitious and united vision for outdoor event climate action, presents a blueprint to lower emissions, with climate action checklists for event organisers, and identifies how festivals can reduce typical footprints by 37%.  There are also specific requests of government to overcome systemic barriers and achieve 50% emissions reductions.

Melvin Benn, Managing Director, Festival Republic and a key supporter of SMGO said, “As event promoters and organisers, we are uniquely placed to influence positive change.  Our industry brings millions of people together every year, and with that comes both a responsibility and an opportunity.  The road ahead won’t be without challenges, but as promoters, we’re no strangers to those.  This report is not just a snapshot of where we are, it’s a call to action.  The show must go on, but it must go on sustainably.”

Home Office publishes new guidance on Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act

Work continues ahead of the implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act (also known as Martyn’s Law) which is due to go live sometime in mid-2027.  As a reminder that means anyone selling compliance services or any authority asking about compliance is being premature (to say the least).  Home Office and SIA are working on a number of guidance and advisory documents that, in their view, should mean there is no need for external services to be bought in by venues, events and festivals (particularly if you are in the sub-800 attendance standard tier).

As part of their preparatory work, the Home Office has launched three new products on ProtectUK.  Two infographics explaining premises scope and events scope and a top tips document designed to help premises and events understand if they are in scope and, if they are, how they can build on existing practice to ensure compliance.  These latest documents now join a growing suite of material produced by the Home Office including a one page leaflet , animation and mythbuster.

EU Commission launches first ever visa policy strategy

The European Commission's first-ever EU Visa Strategy, adopted on January 29, 2026, aims to modernise the EU's visa policy, enhance security, and make the EU more competitive globally.  The strategy focuses on three key pillars: strengthening EU security, boosting prosperity and competitiveness, and making the EU more influential globally.  Encouragingly for live music, the paper recognises the challenges the current arrangements create for touring artists and crew who “may require access to different Member States for more than 90 days within 180 days, without needing long stay or residence in the EU”. 

The commitment in the paper to “explore new rules for extended short stays for selected categories of third-country professionals, such as touring artists, competing athletes, or truck drivers” provides a very useful backdrop to the ongoing discussions between the UK Government and EU Commission on improved touring arrangements.

LIVE to co-chair International Association Summit at ILMC

As we approach the annual gathering of the global live music industry that is ILMC, LIVE is preparing to co-chair the annual International Association Summit that takes place the afternoon before kick-off.  Alongside Johannes Everke of BDKV in Germany, LIVE will be guiding participants through a packed agenda addressing topics such as secondary ticketing, pressures in grassroots music and touring (including work on improved EU-UK touring arrangements).  With representatives present from many of the major markets for live music across the globe, this meeting is always a great opportunity to share knowledge and understanding.