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FAC launches new kitemark scheme with Association Of Independent Promoters

By | Published on Wednesday 2 June 2021

Featured Artists Coalition

The UK’s Featured Artists Coalition yesterday launched a new kitemark scheme that will seek to identify and celebrate artist-friendly organisations across the music industry. The scheme begins with a specific kitemark for independent gig promoters.

The organisation says that its BEAT Board of breakthrough and emerging artists have “developed a set of criteria for independent promoters on how to work with artists”, which covers things like “communication, remuneration, accessibility and hospitality, as well as creating an inclusive environment with a published zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment”.

The specific kitemark for the live side of the business is being delivered in partnership with the Association Of Independent Promoters.

It’s CEO, John Rostron, says: “The artist-promoter relationship is central to the way that the music industry ecosystem works. It is this relationship that is at the heart of music’s breeding ground, where artists learn their craft and build their fanbases. AIP has been proud to partner with the FAC on the development of this kitemark standard. The more mutual understanding there is between independent artists and promoters, the better it is for the whole of our industry”.

Meanwhile, FAC BEAT Board member Lisbee Stainton adds: “Touring as an independent artist can be lonely and difficult to navigate; the new kitemark will not only help to establish a baseline of expected good practice between artists and promoters, but also strengthen the UK’s live music grassroots community, encouraging us to hold one another accountable and improving everyone’s experience of doing the work they love”.

The kitemark is launching, of course, as the live music scene in the UK slowly starts up again after the COVID shutdown. Many still hope full capacity shows might return on 21 Jun, although there are increasing fears that concerns over the new variant of the coronavirus could result in the current schedule for lifting COVID rules being revised. Though, either way, regular gigging and touring will still become a reality for many artists again in the months ahead.

There is more information about the FAC kitemark for promoters here. The scheme will be formally launched with a panel discussion on the artist-promoter relationship tomorrow at 5pm – there is more information about that here.



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