Steve Lamacq has been announced as the new Chair of UK live music trade body LIVE. The news comes after he announced earlier this month that he is to cut back his radio presenting work.
“I am absolutely THRILLED to have been offered the chance to work with an organisation which is right at the centre of live music in the UK”, says Lamacq.
“As someone whose life has been indelibly shaped by the gigs that I’ve seen, it is a terrific opportunity to be a part of the future of live music in this country and to be given the responsibility for helping promote, support and define it for generations to come”, he adds.
Lamacq announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down from his weekday show on BBC Radio 6 Music next month, after eighteen years. He will continue to present a show for the station on Monday afternoons.
At the time, he said that - as well as needing “a breather” from radio and some more family time - he also planned to see “if there's a more practical role I can play in supporting the live music circuit and the venues across the country that I owe so much to”. Apparently there is.
As Lamacq takes on the Chair role, there will also be a number of new directors on the LIVE Board. They include Charisse Beaumont of Black Lives In Music, Christine Osazuwa of Shoobs, and Lucy Noble of AEG Presents.
The Musicians’ Union has also been announced as the sixteenth member of LIVE, which is basically a trade body of trade bodies. The union’s National Organiser For Live Performance, Kelly Wood, is another new addition to the board.
“We are proud to support the entirety of the live music ecosystem and represent their interests and the appointment of music legend Steve Lamacq, the MU’s Kelly Wood, Charisse Beaumont, Christine Osazuwa and Lucy Noble to LIVE’s board will enable us to further extend the work we’re doing”, says CEO Jon Collins.
“Steve will bring to LIVE unrivalled recognition of the power of the UK’s live music industry along with the challenges it faces. We are honoured to have such notable industry figures sitting on our board who will be key to enabling our enviable live music industry to thrive”.