LIVE talks, a series of free online workshops and conversations supporting EDI, wellbeing and sustainability issues affecting the live music industry has announced a new round of ‘committed partners’ for its 2024 programme.

A number of high profile live music organisations have pledged their commitment to this initiative, which will see them providing funding to support the programme of events while promoting the talks themselves to their individual work forces.

The Royal Albert Hall, OVO Hydro, See Tickets, Skiddle and The O2 will join previously announced supporters AEG, Live Nation, SJM Concerts and Kilimanjaro for this year’s programme.

LIVE Talks was launched two years ago by music industry trade body LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), which represents 15 live music industry organisations. Conceived as a series of online discussions covering topics that affect those working in live music, there have been 15 talks to date since its inception, all of which can be accessed via the LIVE website.

LIVE’s first two workshops took place in June & Nov 2022, in partnership with Black Lives in Music, AFEM & Safer Dance. The workshops saw over 350 people come together to learn the basics of race and ethnicity language and join the conversation around misogyny and sexual harassment within the music industry. Over the last 12 months LIVE Talks has programmed further inspiring and educational talks, which have been viewed by thousands of music industry professionals. Topics included:

• Trans education and inclusion
• Breaking down barriers for disabled people
• ADHD struggles and strengths
• Supporting Parents and Carers in music
• Mental health support for artists and backstage workers
• The importance of representation for Black Event Professionals
• Understanding sustainability terminology
• Supporting the music industry’s LGBTQIA+ community
• Mental Health First Aid

Two new events for 2024 have now been revealed:

• ‘Menstruation and Menstrual Health in the Live Music Industry’ will take place on Wednesday 14th August between 12pm – 1pm in partnership with The Musicians Union & Hen Picked: Menopause in the Workplace. The talk is open to all and sign up is free here
• ‘From Melas to Stadiums: Exploring Opportunities within South Asian Live Music’ will take place on Thursday 24th October between 12pm – 1pm in partnership with award-winning DEI Specialist & Cultural Consultant Sania Haq. Anyone who wishes to register their interest in attending can email: gaby@livemusic.biz

Gaby Cartwright, Head of Partnerships at LIVE said, “We are very appreciative of the support we receive from our committed partners who have fully engaged with what we are trying to achieve with LIVE Talks. Since we launched this initiative in 2022, we have hosted 15 free talks covering a wide range of topics and issues and believe that coming together to discuss and listen can positively contribute to people’s experiences of working in the live music industry. With that in mind we are always looking to open this platform to other fantastic organisations who can share their insights and expertise and look forward to announcing more events in the near future.”