Music Venue Trust (MVT) has joined forces with Save Our Scene (SOS) to launch the ‘LiveLine Fund’ – a new initiative where companies and artists can donate to help protect the UK’s grassroots music scene.
Announced today (November 26), the fund is aimed at providing support for the independent music scene, and protecting the future viability of the UK grassroots music ecosystem.
As well as donations to ensure that grassroots music venues across the country can remain open, the ‘LiveLine Fund’ also means that artists and independent promoters can apply for funding through an open application process, which will be managed by MVT.
The first initiative under the partnership between MVT And SOS stems from the announcement that Coldplay made back in September, when they confirmed that 10 per cent of all proceeds from their upcoming Wembley and Hull stadium shows would be donated to the Music Venue Trust.
It has also been bolstered by recent decisions made by both Sam Fender and Katy Perry, who each introduced a ticket levy for their respective UK tours. In the move – which was developed as part of the MVT’s recent ‘Manifesto For Grassroots Music’ – £1 from each ticket sold to their huge upcoming shows will be donated to help protect grassroots spaces.
UK footwear and apparel company Kickers have also become the first brand to contribute to the LiveLine fund. The collaboration comes shortly after the launch of the brand’s ‘Stomping Grounds’ campaign in partnership with Save Our Scene, which supports the preservation of grassroots music venues.
“We are proud to have formed this partnership with Music Venue Trust following our introduction to Coldplay last year. The goal of ‘LiveLine’ is to affirm the independent live music ecosystem and ensure the future viability of our sector. A thriving music industry depends on a steady pipeline of talent, which is made possible through supporting grassroots music,” said SOS founder George Fleming.
“Collaborative action is essential to ensure this fund achieves its full potential and we look forward to working alongside MVT and other stakeholders in amplifying the fund, its awardees and helping ensure proceeds are distributed in a holistic and transparent way, which benefits the entire grassroots ecosystem, including fans.”
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, continued: “Working with likeminded people is always inspiring and, in George and the team at Save Our Scene, we have found kindred spirits who share our passion to protect the grassroots music sector in the face of many challenges they are having to confront.
“Save Our Scene has the sort of direct access to the fan community that we feel has been missing from too many of the discussions so far. By partnering with SOS we are taking a first step towards putting fans and their experiences at the heart of the conversation.”
Visit here to find out more about the ‘LiveLine Fund’.
The news of the ‘Liveline Fund’ comes as the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recently welcomed the UK government’s new backing of a levy on gigs at arena level and above to help save the grassroots music scene, but MVT continued to warn that an urgent deadline must be set to prevent “an even gloomier future”.
It also arrives as NME reported at the start of this month that the touring circuit across the UK’s grassroots music scene is said to be facing “complete collapse” without urgent help, and revealed ways that music lovers can get involved to protect the local spaces.
MVT’s reports have painted a concerning picture of the current UK live music scene over recent years. At the start of 2024, for instance, they shared a full report into the state of the sector for 2023, showing the “disaster” facing live music with venues closing at a rate of around two per week.
Since then, Davyd and co have argued that a tidal wave of closures threatens the fabric of the UK music scene thanks to the recent budget announcement. They outlined how £7million in new premises taxes will place over 350 grassroots music venues at immediate risk of closure – threatening more than 12,000 jobs, over £250million in economic activity and the loss of over 75,000 live music events.
In a statement shared with NME earlier this year, David Martin of the Featured Artists Coalition outlined the uphill battle faced by venue owners, artists and promoters alike. “How does any artist these days make live touring commercially viable? Especially those beneath the top of the pyramid. For while the wider world endures a cost of living crisis, many artists are also facing a cost of touring crisis,” he said.
“Even those playing to relatively modest audiences have to bear substantial costs to tour the UK – from transportation, accommodation and rehearsals to paying the salaries of musicians, crew, production, agents and managers. That’s on top of recording, and the increasing demands of promotion – all activities which create the demand for shows in the first place.
“These too are also shouldered by artists. Against some harsh economic headwinds, it’s no wonder some are starting to buckle.”
Grassroots spaces that have come under threat in recent days alone include The Moon in Cardiff – which announced its closure with immediate effect – Boom in Leeds, which is closing in March 2025, and the Motion Bristol nightclub, which may be shuttered by next summer.
