LIVE, the cross sector trade group for the UK live music industry, has set out six key priorities for 2025, mainly informing the organisation’s lobbying strategy as it seeks more government support for the sector, although some initiatives will be led by LIVE itself, or companies and individuals within the business.
In terms of the role of government, LIVE calls for more economic support, as well as measures to address the issues created by Brexit when it comes to touring Europe, better regulation of secondary ticketing, and close liaison with the sector on the implementation of Martyn's Law.
Within the industry, there are commitments to build a more sustainable live sector and to ensure that the recently launched LIVE Trust effectively supports the grassroots live music community.
The current UK government, says LIVE CEO Jon Collins, has “a clear understanding of the challenges facing the live music industry, alongside the economic potential we have to generate growth”, and to drive the government’s own Industrial Strategy.
That said, despite the government “taking the creative industries seriously”, Collins goes on, “there remains a lot more that can be done to relieve the pressure on our sector and as such we will continue to act as a critical friend that will hold those in power to account while seeking to galvanise policies that align with the government’s desire to kickstart economic growth, break down barriers to opportunity, ensure a safer Britain, and make the UK a clean energy superpower”.
The six key priorities set out by LIVE are as follows...
- “Kickstarting growth” by “strengthening the live music sector and wider economy”. This is where LIVE will continue to call for a VAT cut on tickets, as well as other reforms of taxation and business rates, plus “export support, planning reform, improved skills provision and investment to accelerate the green transition”.
- “Breaking down barriers to opportunity” by “addressing the damage to EU touring post-Brexit”. LIVE notes that new negotiations between the UK and EU “will commence in the near future”, and it plans to “play a pivotal role in ensuring government understands the required outcomes” for performers and promoters who have faced all sorts of new bureaucracy since Brexit, which makes touring Europe unviable for some artists.
- “Ensuring a safer Britain” by “making Martyn’s Law work for everyone”. The live sector has generally supported the objectives of new rules introduced in response to the 2017 terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena, named for one of the concertgoers who died, Martyn Hett. However, it has also raised various concerns about the impact new safety and security obligations will have on smaller venues when they go into force in 2027. “LIVE is committed to working closely with government to continue to improve and strengthen Martyn’s Law”, the trade group says.
- “Making the UK a clean energy superpower” with “a sustainable live music sector”. LIVE says it is “committed to helping build a sustainable live music sector by accelerating the sector’s transition to net zero through increased funding and technical support, and to continuing to shape a unified vision for climate action in the UK’s live music sector”.
- “Delivering robust regulation of the secondary ticketing market”, by working closely with the government as it undertakes its current consultation on the ticketing sector.
- “Implementing and establishing the LIVE Trust”, the recently launched initiative that aims to support artists, promoters and venues operating at the grassroots, initially via funding generated by a voluntary ticket levy on shows at arena and stadium venues.