FAC Artist In Residence, David Rowntree, urges industry to listen to the artist’s voice on grassroots music, AI and music streaming

• Tributes paid to FAC founding member, Howard Jones, who steps down from board

• Incoming board member, Alt-J’s Gus Unger-Hamilton, joins a panel discussion with Katie Melua, Big Joanie’s Stephanie Phillips & Estella Adeyeri and BEKA

• FAC unveil a new Artist Council - replacing and expanding the BEAT Board

Opening the Featured Artists Coalition’sAGM at KEF Music Gallery in Central London, blur’s David Rowntree encouraged the wider music industry to “listen to artists” on issues such as streaming reform, AI and ongoing challenges to grassroots live music. 

This week, the FAC and the Musicians' Union published an open letter to the government, urging them to recognise the “cost of touring crisis” faced by performing artists, and to back recommendations made by the Culture, Media & Sport Committee to ensure a proposed ticket levy on arena and stadium events would benefit artists and independent promoters - as well as grassroots venues.

David Rowntree said: “While we all agree that grassroots live venues need protecting, we also need to highlight that artists are enduring a cost of touring crisis. As the FAC outlined in this week’s open letter with the MU, there’s no point saving buildings, if no one can afford to tour.”

David Martin, CEO, FAC expanded the point in his presentation, saying: 
“We believe passionately that a levy system needs to be put in place as soon as possible - and in a way that benefits the widest diversity of British artists and music genres. Artist performances and the artist-fan relationship are the basis for the whole of the live music industry.  If artists are not able to perform, there will be no live sector, no new scenes and a blockage on the development of new audiences.”

Both also led tributes to Howard Jones for his long-term support of the FAC. 

Howard, an FAC founding member, stepped down from the board at the AGM having reached the end of his term limit. 

“Howard has released Platinum-selling albums in the UK and US, he played at Live Aid, he has been through the music industry mill, and has retained an enormous fanbase,” said David Rowntree.  “All of us have benefitted from his experiences and his understanding of the business, and I am delighted he’ll remain active at the FAC, while making room for new voices to join the board.”

Alt-J’s Gus Unger-Hamillton was voted onto the board, while Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davila, Wolf Alice’s Joff Oddie, Aluna Dewji-Francis and Dave Okumu retained their board seats. 

Gus later joined fellow FAC board member, Katie Melua, FAC Ambassadors Stephanie Phillips and Estella Adeyeri from Big Joanie, and BEKA, a 2024 awardee of the FAC’s Step Up Fund, for an in-depth discussion on the challenges facing artists in the current economic and cultural climate. 

The session was moderated by NME News Editor, Andrew Trendell, while the AGM was supported by PPL, the UK music industry’s collective management organisation for over 140,000 performers and recording rights holders. 

Attendees also heard from BellaLueen (aka Levina), who presented a rebranding and expansion of the FAC’s BEAT Board - now known as the FAC Artist Council. 

Consisting of a group of 35 artists, the Artist Council will act as advisors to the FAC board and look to develop a series of practical tools and advocacy initiatives - including a “fair trade” industry kitemark for artist-friendly businesses and organisations. 

Speaking about the Artist Council, Bella Lueen said: “We’re united behind the transformative power of music. We know how music shapes not just individuals, but society as a whole. Our mission is to champion the artists creating this essential work and make sure they have the space and power to be industry leaders.”