The UK Artists Touring Fund has been created to help provide targeted tour support to UK artists, enabling live shows to be financially viable, inclusive and accessible. Photo: Shutterstock.
The LIVE Trust has announced the first wave of funding through its phase one grant programme, distributing £500,000 to support the UK’s grassroots live music sector.
Of this, £125,000 has been awarded to the UK Artists Touring Fund (UKAT) — a new touring support programme supported by the MU, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and the Music Managers Forum (MMF).
Supporting grassroots live music across the UK
Funding from the LIVE Trust is being allocated to expert music industry organisations with the capacity to deliver immediate, practical support to the grassroots live music sector. The initial focus includes addressing rising touring and production costs, as well as venue closures.
The phase one funding allocations are:
- Music Venue Support, delivered by the Music Venue Trust – £200,000
- UK Artists Touring Fund, delivered by the Featured Artists Coalition and supported by the Music Managers Forum and Musicians’ Union – £125,000
- Independent Promoters Grassroots Bursary Scheme, delivered by the Association of Independent Promoters – £75,000
- Micro and Very Small Festivals Development Programme, delivered by the Association of Independent Festivals – £50,000
- Volume Control Enhanced, delivered by Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast – £25,000
- Developing Scotland’s Emerging Live Sector, delivered by Wide Events – £15,000
- Music Futures, delivered by Production Futures – £10,000.
Funding comes from a voluntary £1 per ticket levy on shows over 5,000 capacity, agreed by participating artists and promoters.
UKAT: backing sustainable touring for UK artists
Touring costs have increased dramatically in recent years, leaving many artists unable to tour sustainably, or at all. As a result, UK tours are becoming shorter, less geographically diverse, and financially risky, particularly for emerging and mid-level artists.
At the same time, audiences are facing their own cost-of-living pressures, with high-priced large-scale shows increasingly dominating the live market, while smaller shows struggle.
The UK Artists Touring Fund (UKAT) has been created to help address this imbalance. The programme will provide targeted tour support to UK artists, enabling live shows to be financially viable, inclusive and accessible — while supporting the wider grassroots ecosystem, including musicians, crew, venues, promoters and festivals.
By enabling artists to tour more extensively, UKAT will help build sustainable careers, develop new audiences, and bring more live music to more communities across the UK.
Our members, including both featured artists and session musicians, will benefit from this funding
MU National Organiser for Live, Theatre and Music Writers, Kelly Wood, said: “The LIVE Trust's Phase One funding distribution includes £125,000 for artists that will be made available via UKAT (UK Artist Touring Fund).
“We're proud to have partnered with the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) on the development of UKAT, along with the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and we know that it will make a huge difference to artists who are currently struggling against the cost-of-touring crisis. UKAT will enable artists to tour extensively, effectively and successfully – reaching fans and sustaining careers. Our members, including both featured artists and session musicians, will benefit from this funding, and full details will be announced soon.
“Thanks to the LIVE Trust for this phase one funding distribution, and to all of the artists who've made this possible by including the £1 per ticket donation on their arena shows. Keep Music Live!”
About the Live Trust
Established by and acting on behalf of the live music industry, which contributes £6.7bn to the UK economy while employing 230,000 people, the LIVE Trust is delivering funding where it is most needed with an initial focus on the grassroots music sector in a bid to combat venue closures, a reduced touring circuit and festival cancellations.
The escalating cost of event production, touring and venue operation has aligned with the continuing cost of living crisis to further squeeze this vital part of the music ecosystem. The LIVE Trust was established by LIVE, the representative body for UK live music, in response to this challenge, recognising a call to action from industry, Parliament and Government.