Coldplay, Sam Fender & Katy Perry donations launch new initiative

livelinefund.uk

Music Venue Trust (MVT), the UK charity which represents hundreds of Grassroots Music Venues (GMVs), has joined forces with live music advocates, Save Our Scene (SOS), to launch the Liveline Fund.

Aimed at supporting the independent music scene, the Liveline Fund is primarily focused on strengthening the future viability of the UK grassroots music ecosystem.

The first initiative under this new partnership is the announcement from Coldplay in September that they will donate 10% of the band’s proceeds from their forthcoming Wembley and Hull stadium shows to Music Venue Trust to support the Liveline Fund. This will help support MVT’s vital work with the UK’s grassroots music venues, artists, and promoters.

Donations made from the same events to MVT by the concerts’ promoters (SJM Concerts, Metropolis Music and Live Nation), the band’s booking agent (WME), the venues (Wembley Stadium and Hull Craven Park) and the official ticket agents (Ticketmaster, See Tickets and AXS) will also support the new fund, ensuring every penny received has the maximum direct impact for the grassroots sector.

Alongside curated investments into infrastructure, events and touring, UK grassroots music venues, artists and independent promoters will be able to apply for funding through an open application process, which will be managed by MVT.

Kickers, the UK footwear and apparel brand steeped in UK music heritage, have stepped forward to become the first brand to contribute to the Liveline fund. This contribution comes shortly after the launch of the brand’s ‘Stomping Grounds’ campaign in partnership with Save Our Scene, and therefore part of their wider commitment to supporting the preservation of grassroots music venues.

Partners in Liveline, SOS, was launched by George Fleming during the COVID-19 lockdown as an organisation that advocates for the protection of UK live music and is an authentic voice for fans. As well as raising much needed funds, SOS is a media platform that organises events, coordinates activism and plays a key role in the independent live music sector, ensuring that the views of the fan community are heard and play a central role in planning the way ahead.

George Fleming said, “We are proud to have formed this partnership with Music Venue Trust following our introduction to Coldplay last year. The goal of Liveline is to affirm the independent live music ecosystem and ensure the future viability of our sector. A thriving music industry depends on a steady pipeline of talent, which is made possible through supporting grassroots music. Collaborative action is essential to ensure this fund achieves its full potential and we look forward to working alongside MVT and other stakeholders in amplifying the fund, its awardees and helping ensure proceeds are distributed in a holistic and transparent way, which benefits the entire grassroots ecosystem, including fans.”

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said, “Working with likeminded people is always inspiring and, in George and the team at Save Our Scene, we have found kindred spirits who share our passion to protect the grassroots music sector in the face of many challenges they are having to confront. Save Our Scene has the sort of direct access to the fan community that we feel has been missing from too many of the discussions so far. By partnering with SOS we are taking a first step towards putting fans and their experiences at the heart of the conversation.”

The Liveline Fund, already bolstered by the incredible generosity of Coldplay, Sam Fender, Katy Perry and Kickers, will give other companies, organisations and artists a very simple and well-run platform through which they can make donations and fuel the future of UK grassroots music.