LIVE announces launch of the Live Trust 15 Jan 2025
‘Transformative’ New Funding Initiative for Grassroots Music Sector Unveiled
LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), which represents 15 live music industry organisations, has announced the launch of the Live Trust, a transformative new funding initiative that will offer much needed financial support to those working across live music – artists, venue operators, promoters, festival organisers and more.
Established by and acting on behalf of the live music industry, which contributes £6.1bn to the UK economy while employing 230,000 people, the LIVE Trust will deliver funding where it is most needed with an initial focus on the grassroots music sector, which saw 125 grassroots music venues close permanently in 2023, 78 festivals lost in 2024 and a 50% decline in tour dates over the last three decades.
The escalating cost of event production aligned with the UK’s continuing cost of living crisis has conspired to further squeeze this vital part of the music ecosystem and the LIVE Trust will work to support those who are keeping venues open, festivals trading, artists touring and those involved in the promoting and staging of live music performances.
Initially the LIVE Trust will receive its funding from a voluntary contribution of £1 per ticket from arena and stadium shows with a capacity of over 5000. The impetus for the LIVE Trust came from the aforementioned pressures in UK live music and from the demands of politicians and policymakers for the live music industry to further support its grassroots stakeholders. A Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee Report on Grassroots Music Venues, which was published in May 2024 recommended that the live music industry introduce a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets to support those venues, artists and promoters with fixed deadlines to implement tangible and workable solutions.
The LIVE Trust has also appointed three founding Trustees – Steve Lamacq MBE, the Chair of LIVE, Kirsty McShannon, CEO of Azorra - who are commercial and business affairs advisors to the live music, festivals, events and venues industry - and James Ainscough, CEO of The Royal Albert Hall. Additional trustees will be appointed in the coming months to ensure diverse representation from all elements of live music. Funding strategy will be set on a periodic basis by these trustees, with input from LIVE and the wider UK live music sector, which will decide and control how money is raised, how much needs to be raised and where that money will be allocated.
A number of existing financial support schemes run by the members of LIVE will continue to run independently of the LIVE Trust, which will have a central philosophy to act for the good of live music by augmenting and amplifying existing schemes where they are working well and coordinating its activities across these various initiatives to deliver the biggest impact and best value for the sector.
Jon Collins CEO of LIVE said, “The launch of The LIVE Trust marks a significant step change in how the grassroots live music sector will be supported moving forward. By putting in place a robust infrastructure that can receive and allocate the financial resources needed to support the survival of this vital part of the music ecosystem we have responded to the appeals of the grassroots sector and the recommendations of the CMS Report that asked us to implement tangible and workable solutions. We would like to thank all of our members for their hard work in making this bold and ambitious plan a reality.”
NEWS & PRESS
WMA announces expansion of UK & European Publicity, Social and Marketing Divisions
Andy Saiker appointed as Head of PR, Social & Marketing (UK & Europe) Global digital marketing and creative agency, WMA are delighted to announce the appointment of Andy Saiker as Head of PR, Social and Marketing (UK & Europe), effective immediately....more
Tems Launches The Leading Vibe Initiative, Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Music
APPLICATION DEADLINE THIS JULY 13TH Two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer, Tems announces today the launch of the Leading Vibe Initiative, a groundbreaking platform designed to support, connect and amplify young women in music across Africa, with a vision to...more
WeAre8 Announces 8fest: The World's First Social Media Music Festival, curated by industry insiders
The next generation of music talent is about to transform your social feed experience. WeAre8, the social media bringing social and economic freedom to artists worldwide, today unveils 8fest - a global, three-day virtual festival running next week from11-13 July 2025,...more
The Money Trench – The Music Industry Podcast celebrates its first anniversary with two new headline sponsors
The podcast curated by Mark Sutherland and executive producer Mike Walsh will launch its 50th episode with the support of SoundOn and Tixel The Money Trench – The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland (‘TMT’), is celebrating its first anniversary with...more
Cyanite and ON AIR strengthen partnership to deliver AI-driven insights for playlist curation in MusicMaster Scheduling
To redefine music programming for broadcasters and audio platforms, ON AIR has integrated Cyanite's industry-leading AI music tagging into the familiar MusicMaster Scheduling environment. This collaboration unlocks entirely new, data-driven pathways for playlist curation, helping radio stations and content creators...more
Warner Music buys Skorpioni Music's catalogue
Independent label's strong legacy in Finnish music will endure Warner Music Finland has bought the catalog of renowned independent record company Skorpioni, which had announced earlier this year that it would be ceasing operations. This is a significant transition in the local...more
Bauer Media Audio Appoints Paul Eldon as Director of Measurement
Bauer Media Audio has appointed Paul Eldon as Director of Measurement, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and trust in audio measurement across all its markets. Paul brings over 15 years of experience in media measurement, audience analytics and advertising technology. He...more
Music industry unites to raise over £715,000 for Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy at O2 Silver Clef awards
David Gilmour, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mika, The Last Dinner Party, The Corrs, Chase & Status and more honoured at glittering evening ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House The UK music industry joined together tonight to honour some of its most iconic and...more
The Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. Announces Tom Greene as New CEO
Today, Apple Corps Ltd. announces the appointment of Tom Greene as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2025. Since 1968, Apple Corps Ltd. has overseen The Beatles’ creative and business interests. During that time The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George...more
Tees Reborn: Bravado's Radical Upcycling Project Aims to Thread a Greener Future for Merch Business
More than 400,000 leftover tour t-shirts will be respun into new items and sold on tours this fall Bravado, the world's leading artist merchandise and lifestyle company, announced today the launch of an ambitious program to upcycle obsolete or unsold t-shirts...more
BandLab Expands Licensing Platform to Connect Artists and Rights Holders to AI Companies, Opening the Door to Legal AI Music Models
BandLab, the world's largest social music creation platform, today announced a major expansion of BandLab Licensing (licensing.bandlab.com), introducing a structure with clear guidelines that allows artists, labels, and publishers to signal interest in licensing their music to train AI models....more
Warner Music Group and Bain Capital announce launch of joint venture to invest up to $1.2 billion in iconic music catalogs
Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG), the global music entertainment company, and Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, are launching a joint venture to allow for the purchase of up to $1.2 billion of legendary music catalogs across both recorded music...more
Chrysalis Records announces Tina McBye as Senior Vice President, Commercial Music Operations
Chrysalis Records, which is part of the Reservoir group of companies, has announced the promotion of Tina McBye to the position of Senior Vice President, Commercial Music Operations. Based in the company’s London offices Tina will report directly to Alison Wenham,...more
BRIT School Chair of Trustees Josh Berger CBE Hosts Fundraiser Event at Ronnie Scott's for the UK’s leading free Arts School
Current and former students staged a showcase - representing all areas of the creative industries from dance and music to spoken word and musical theatre. Former student and Ivor Novello award winning songwriter, Dan Gillespie Sells performed, and newly graduated rising...more
RSA announces David Joseph CBE as new Chief Executive Officer
Former Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK to lead Royal Society of Arts into bold new future The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) is delighted to announce the appointment of David Joseph CBE as its new CEO. David will formally...more
Exclusive after show tickets released for sold-out Ladies Who Rock event
In addition, an online auction offers chance to win works from top contemporary artists, as well as film memorabilia, and VIP experiences Now in its 5th year, Ladies Who Rock fundraiser which takes place on 10 July at Hotel Café Royal...more
TikTok and Tomorrowland announce a global partnership to bring the best of electronic music to global audiences
TikTok today announces a new partnership deal with Tomorrowland (7m followers), the world-famous electronic dance music festival, to deliver unprecedented digital festival experiences for global music fans. The new wide-ranging, year-long partnership will see TikTok serve as Tomorrowland's Official Content Partner, offering 24/7 festival...more
The UK's Official biggest songs and albums of 2025 so far revealed
Alex Warren overtakes Lola Young to land the biggest single of the year so far with Ordinary (OCC)Sam Fender scoops the biggest new album release of 2025 Sabrina Carpenter's Short N' Sweet deluxe edition and UK tour keeps her in front in...more
Open letter from WIN CEO to European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera
Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera European CommissionRue de la Loi / Wetstraat 2001049 BrusselsBelgium 30 June 2025 Dear Ms. Ribera, I am writing regarding the investigation by the Directorate-General for Competition into the proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings LLC (Downtown) by Universal...more
Taylor Swift and Charli XCX Help Attract Record 23.5 Million Music Tourists Spending £10 Billion at UK Music Events - New Report Reveals
UK Music Calls on Communities to Get Behind Music in new Hometown Glory Report Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Bruce Springsteen, Sam Fender and Dua Lipa helped lure a record 23.5 million music tourists to concerts and festivals in the UK in 2024, a...more
BMG Brings Seeed catalog under one roof
BMG has acquired the artist and label rights of the German band Seeed. The agreement covers their first five albums: New Dubby Conquerors (2001), Music Monks (2003), Next! (2005), Live (2006), and Seeed (2012). With the release of Bam...more
Amazon Launches the Ultimate Oasis Fan Destination
Plus Chance To Win Tickets To Live ‘25 tour Amazon announces exclusive CD and Vinyl products available to pre-order on July 8 - with up to 15% off selected CD, Vinyl, and Merch for Prime members in celebration of Prime Day (July...more
Apple Music celebrates 10 years with the launch of a new global hub for artists designed to foster creativity and connection
Tune in to Apple Music Radio for a broadcast celebration with hosts Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and special guests as they reminisce about their favourite moments from the past 10 years while looking toward the future As Apple Music marks its...more
Casio Sessions applications close soon!
With only one month to go applications to enter Casio Sessions 2025 are opened until the 31st July, 2025. Musicians will compete to win a PX-S7000HM digital piano, one of Casio’s premium models worth £2,249, plus an exclusive studio mastering session...more
Zebralution Announces Promotions and New Appointments
William Hallström Promoted to Head of International Business Development in addition to current role as Senior Vice President (SVP) UK, Ireland & The Nordics Harry Barrett and Zhenya Ivanova Join Team in Key Sales & Marketing Roles Zebralution, the leading independent digital...more
Universal Music Group and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music establish the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship to honor the legacy of a music pioneer
The endowed scholarship builds on UMG’s Sounds of the Future initiative and The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of music industry leaders. Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced...more
Sony Music Publishing Signs Global Deal with Breakthrough Singer-Songwriter Noeline Hofmann
Sony Music Publishing announced today the signing of rising Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician Noeline Hofmann to a global publishing agreement. Noeline Hofmann has quickly garnered widespread acclaim across the country music scene with the release of her debut EP, Purple Gas,...more
Framework to feature Keinemusik's Adam Port for rare Hollywood Boulevard takeover
The historic open-air performance marks Framework's third event on the iconic Los Angeles street, further solidifying their impact on LA nightlife 'Framework presents Adam Port on Hollywood Boulevard'Saturday, September 27, 2025 Pre-sale begins Wednesday, July 2 @ 10am PT before public on-sale...more
AEG officially takes the reins at Watford Colosseum following major refurbishment milestone
Watford Borough Council has officially handed over the keys of the refurbished Watford Colosseum to AEG Presents UK, marking the practical completion of the venue's multi-million-pound upgrade and a significant milestone in the Town Hall Quarter regeneration. With the building now...more
PPL makes payment of £96.7 million to 139,000 performers and recording rightsholders
PPL is making a Q2 payment of £96.7 million to 139,000 performers and recording rightsholders. This distribution is comprised primarily of payments for UK collections across public performance and broadcast licensing in 2024, as well as some additional revenue from international...more
THE HEADLINES
Record labels are running on empty (see Opinion)
AI music is going viral, but it’s not what fans want (see Comment)
The Velvet Sundown may be the first breakout AI band from Suno (see Digital)
Amid cuts, WMG to "continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development" (see Business)
WIN CEO writes to European Commission Vice-President over Universal's acquisition of Downtown (see Comment)
If Spotify truly champions discovery, it should champion fair compensation from the first stream (see Comment)
Selected Glastonbury coverage (see News, Features, Showbiz, Reviews)
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)
Retiring Arista CEO David Massey shares his top 10 career highlights (see Features)
Budweiser’s royalty loophole ad: How AI and social have changed the value of creators (see Comment)
When did making music get so lonely? (see Comment)
How will Taylor Swift’s masters ownership saga be remembered? (see Audio&Visual)
The copyright war between the AI industry and creatives (see Comment)
Interview: Lyor Cohen, the head of YouTube Music (see Features)
The ‘pure’ songwriter is disappearing – and it’s everyone’s problem (see Comment)