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£500K Boost for UK Small Venues!
28 Jan
Summary
- LIVE Trust begins distributing £500K in grants to support small venues.
- Harry Styles could raise £900K for LIVE Trust from Wembley shows.
- Report highlights over half of UK grassroots venues are unprofitable.
The LIVE Trust has commenced its initial funding distribution, allocating £500,000 to support grassroots music venues across the U.K. This significant injection of funds aims to address the urgent financial challenges faced by the sector.
Artist contributions are pivotal, with Harry Styles notably pledging £1 from each ticket sold for his upcoming ten Wembley Stadium shows. This initiative alone could generate approximately £900,000 for the LIVE Trust, amplifying support for live music. He joins a growing list of prominent musicians who have voluntarily donated to this cause.
The LIVE Trust, established in January 2025, focuses on distributing proceeds to bolster the grassroots music scene. Its recent funding includes £200,000 for the Music Venue Trust (MVT) to support member venues facing rising costs. Additionally, £125,000 is designated for an artists' touring fund to assist with international touring expenses.
Further grants are being distributed to various organizations, including the Association of Independent Promoters (£125,000), the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast (£25,000), Scotland's Wide Events (£15,000), and Production Futures (£10,000). This multi-faceted approach underscores a collective effort to ensure the sustainability of the U.K.'s vital live music infrastructure.
