A new fundraising initiative in the UK has proven to be successful in supporting grassroots music by raising over £500,000, as reported by The LIVE Trust. The scheme, which involves established artists like Pulp, Diana Ross, Hans Zimmer, and Mumford & Sons, encourages participants to donate £1 from every ticket sold during UK tour legs to The LIVE Trust. This funding initiative aims to provide financial support to individuals working in the music industry.
One of the beneficiaries of this initiative is the UK Artist Touring Fund, which helps artists address the financial challenges associated with touring, enabling them to apply for financial aid to perform at grassroots-level shows. Both international and domestic artists are welcome to participate in the scheme, with donations accepted from arena and stadium shows with a capacity of 5,000 or more.
Jon Collins, the CEO of LIVE, expressed his appreciation for the milestone achieved by The LIVE Trust, emphasizing the significant contribution made to the grassroots live music sector. He commended the performers and their teams for their support of the wider live ecosystem and acknowledged those who have already taken the initiative to participate in the fundraising scheme.
The voluntary ticket levy initiative has gained government support, with Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant urging the live music industry to adopt the scheme “as soon as possible.” The overwhelming support for the initiative among music fans in the UK was evident in a recent survey, where 93% of respondents expressed their favorability towards the scheme. This initiative highlights the importance of grassroots music within the UK’s thriving £6.7 billion music industry
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