LIVE Trust: tour pledges pass 500k
LIVE is delighted to announce that the LIVE Trust, our transformative new funding initiative that will offer much needed financial support to those working across grassroots live music, has already had over £500k pledged in ticket contributions from UK tours of domestic and international artists – from Pulp to Diana Ross, Mumford and Sons to Hans Zimmer.
Passing the half million figure coincides with new fan research which shows the concept behind the Trust is hugely popular. ‘Music Fans Voice’ a major new report released last week, surveyed over 8000 live music concert goers, and found that 93% of respondents supported the idea that £1 from every ticket of any Arena or Stadium Live Music event should go to a fund that directly supports the Grassroots.
LIVE meets with Culture Minister, Sir Chris Bryant MP
In a busy week of political and policy meetings, multiple LIVE Board members met with Culture Minister, Sir Chris Bryant MP as part of our regular series of live music roundtable sessions. As expected, the LIVE Trust and our wider support for the grassroots of the UK live music industry was the top item on the agenda. The Minister and officials were pleased to hear about the progress made, explored ways they could offer support and urged us all to move further faster. In addition, we discussed the Government’s plans to remove ticket touts, work with the EU on improved touring arrangements and the many exciting plans that will come out of the Government’s industrial strategy.
Jon Collins, CEO of LIVE said, “This is a welcome milestone for The LIVE Trust and marks a very significant contribution to the grassroots live music sector. What this demonstrates is that there is a real appetite from performers and their teams to support the wider live ecosystem and we applaud and thank those that have already taken this initiative. Whilst this is an excellent start there is still much work to do if we are to convince government that a voluntary rather than statutory levy is both workable and sustainable.”
LIVE Touring: work on sorting EU arrangements intensifies
As we approach the high level summit between the UK government and the EU on May 19th, work is accelerating to ensure all sides have the information needed to deliver the best possible new deal. And LIVE’s work to secure reform that will unlock new opportunities for artists, crew, venues and festivals across the UK and Europe has been boosted by the long term support of the Domestic Advisory Group on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement which is a key body looked to by Government to reflect what is and is not working currently in dealings with the EU. Ahead of the Summit, the DAG has issued a comprehensive statement that includes important and positive language around touring:
“Music is the world’s most loved and universally spoken language, extending far beyond Europe’s borders. This is why the DAG strongly encourages all efforts to facilitate easier travel for touring musicians and other creative artists, along with their technical support staff, across Europe. This should include allowing them to travel visa-free for more than 90 days in a 180day period. Programes such as Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps remain clear opportunities to the UK which the government should pursue, as re-joining sends a clear message of the importance placed on promoting cultural exchange”.
Ministers have been clear that securing improved EU touring arrangements is a manifesto commitment and so they are putting their full weight behind delivering for the creative industries. In the coming days and weeks, LIVE will be meeting with officials and Ministers across multiple departments to stress the value of rapid action.
LIVE Green: reflections on Earth Day
Everyday is Earth day. But especially, on April 22nd we celebrated and acknowledged the day which began the modern environmentalism movement as we know it, which was most notably held on April 22nd 1970.
Over 55 years on, and the day is recognised around the world, by millions of people in every corner of our beautiful yet endangered planet.
In this special LIVE Green newsletter, we highlighted the latest developments from industry collaborators working towards a more sustainable sector.
Share this round-up with colleagues.
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