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Business News Deals Live Business
AIF and MU launch Fair Play For Festivals agreement
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 6 November 2015
The Association of Independent Festivals used its Festival Congress event in Cardiff yesterday to announce a new agreement with the Musicians’ Union called the Fair Play For Festivals agreement, which, the two organisations say, “will mutually benefit emerging artists who are represented by the MU and the AIF’s 55 member festivals”.
An extension of the MU’s existing ‘Fair Play’ initiative, the new document provides guidance and standards for emerging artists and independent festival operators in areas like remuneration, promotion, logistics and advance information. The alliance recognises the importance independent festivals play in the careers of emerging talent, and the importance of said acts to said events, and aims to enhance working relationships.
Says AIF General Manager Paul Reed: “This agreement covers a lot of ground and, in many cases, the festivals will already be fulfilling such conditions for emerging artists. The idea is to provide practicable and realistic guidance and, crucially, a balanced agreement that will work for promoters and artists alike. UK festivals are one of the main incubators for emerging talent in the UK and this agreement acknowledges the importance of such artists to our members”.
Meanwhile, the MU’s Live Performance Official Kelly Wood added: “Our ‘Fair Play’ initiative encourages good, clear relationships between artists and employers based around fair deals and it is exciting to be taking this into the festival sector”.
She went on: “Festival slots are invaluable for emerging artists looking to reach new audiences and we therefore embraced the opportunity to work with the AIF in order to create a mutually beneficial agreement. With the input of our members we’ve been able to achieve an agreement whereby the terms are relevant, realistic and will encourage a good working relationship between artists and festival organisers”.
For more on the agreement check www.aiforg.com/fairplay
