Newsletter: Nomination Deadline
LIVE Awards: it’s nominations deadline day!
Today is your last chance to submit a nomination for our third annual LIVE Awards – it’ll be another
night to remember on the 11 December at Troxy, London.
The LIVE Awards are hosted by LIVE, the voice of the UK’s live music business, and recognise and
reward those individuals and companies taking our sector to the next level. The LIVE Awards will be
judged by a closed and anonymous panel of industry professionals. Each entry will be considered on
its own merits to ensure that the awards are a true reflection of business excellence in live music.
Click here for more information on each category and how to submit your nominations.
The full awards list for The LIVE Awards 2024 are as follows:
The LIVE Green Award
The LIVE Workforce Award
Venue of the Year
Grassroots Champion
Booking Agency of the Year (x2 categories)
Top Ticketing Service
National Promoter of the Year
Regional Promoter of the Year
Major Festival of the Year
Festival of the Year
Road Warrior of the Year
Production Supplier
Brand Partnership
The LIVETime Achievement Award
Tables and individual tickets are available now from just £195+VAT. Each seat at the awards includes
welcome cocktails; dinner with wine pairing, two hours of complimentary beer, wine and softs; the
awards, and an afterparty until the early hours. For ticket and event information, simply click here.
Meanwhile, for a reminder of last years winners, click here.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill moves to second reading
LIVE continues to work closely with the Home Office as we seek to ensure that Martyn’s Law is
adopted in the most robust form possible and is introduced in a way that aligns with licensing
commitments. To date we have helped shape amendments to the Home Office’s approach
concerning the requirements in the standard tier (200-800 cap venues), the pace of introduction of
the legislation and plans for a new inspectorate.
Due to be debated in Parliament on the 14th October, LIVE is re-focussing its efforts on making clear
that while supportive of the intent behind the bill, there are improvements and amendments that
could and should be introduced as the Bill moves through Parliament. We will also, however,
continue to remind industry that the Bill is not due to go live until 2027, with a lengthy period during
which operating protocols will be developed. As such, there is currently no need to demonstrate
compliance, to appoint consultants, or integrate the legislation into licensing discussions.
LIVE Talks: From Melas to Stadiums: Exploring Opportunities within South Asian Live Music hosted
by Sania Haq (Founder, Bye 2 Stereotypes)
South Asian live music events are an integral part of the UK’s cultural tapestry, with a rich and
diverse ecosystem that caters to various tastes and communities. These events range from vibrant
community Melas and smaller, intimate performances to grand-scale stadium shows featuring
renowned artists.
With landmark moments such as Glastonbury’s dedicated South Asian space in 2024 (The Arrivals)
and international artists like Diljit Dosanjh selling out major UK venues like The O2, the South Asian
live music scene is thriving. The time to get involved in South Asian live music events is now.
This session will provide an in-depth exploration of the South Asian live music landscape in the UK. It
will also highlight the challenges faced by artists and event organisers within this vibrant yet complex
scene, and how to navigate these.
Sania has over a decade of hands-on experience working within the South Asian music industry
through BollyCo, a dance and entertainment company she helps manage. This is coupled with 12+
years within research, seven of which she spent leading on AudienceNet’s music and entertainment-
related work, working closely with clients such as the IPO, IFPI, Sony, UMG, Warner, Spotify,
Soundcloud, YouTube, the BPI and ERA, among others.
More broadly, Sania is also an award-winning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) practitioner and
Cultural Consultant. In 2023, Sania set up Bye 2 Stereotypes, a brand through which she provides
research, training and strategic support to organisations wanting to engage diverse audiences or
address inequalities within society and the workplace.
Date: Thursday 24 th October
Time: 12pm – 1pm UK
Location: Online (Zoom)
LIVE Brussels trip secures endorsement for improved EU touring arrangements
Alongside UK Music, LIVE headed to Brussels recently to meet with fellow members of the UK
Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) and its EU counterpart. With the Government committed to
improving touring arrangements for UK artists alongside a wider ‘reset’ of the UK’s relationship with
the EU, our challenge is keeping the need for a touring solution high on the priority list for those UK
and EU politicians who will be tasked with negotiating any new arrangements. To date, we have
been delighted with the recognition from our fellow DAG members of the challenges facing cultural
touring and the need for reform. This was crystallised in the joint statement put out after our time
in Brussels which included:
“There is a need for flexibility for travel arrangements [for] artists and associated technical support
staff to be able to travel visa-free for more than 90 in 180 days, and an exemption for organisations
transporting material carried under an ATA carnet. This includes an exemption from cabotage
regulations for the stage, sound, lighting equipment and any physical infrastructure, including
instruments required to facilitate a performance”.
To have EU voices as well as UK organisations signed up to this position is important as we head into
a negotiation. Our next task, in support of those talks, is to gather evidence of the value (cultural,
economic and societal) of reforms that lead to greater exchange, more tours, shows and
performances.
Alongside this work, LIVE remains hugely grateful to our friend and redoubtable campaigner, Lord
Clancarty, as he continues to hold the Government to account. Speaking in the Lords recently, he
stated, “My Lords, the Minister should agree that in the cultural area the UK should have much closer
relations with the EU. Although the language has changed, we have not yet seen any action at all to
address the specific concerns of the arts and creative industries. When will that happen? Every
passing week represents lost opportunities and revenues for many artists and creatives who continue
to face huge difficulties in Europe”.
Responding for the Government, Baroness Twycross noted that, “There is a genuine commitment
and determination from the Government to address this. I thank the noble Earl for his question on
this point”.
Vision 2025 launches fundraiser for critical sector research
Vision: 2025 is galvanising the live festival and outdoor events industry to bring a clear and bold
2030 climate vision for the sector, one which shows leadership and ambition in meeting our
immediate and global challenges, aligns with government climate targets and the 1.5-degree global
ambition.
Vision: 2025 has established a cross-industry working group, chaired by LIVE CEO Jon Collins which
brings experts together to review data and information, establish benchmarks, consider trends and
opportunities, engage widely with the industry, and shape a workable vision and roadmap that is
free for everyone in the sector; with an important element of the work being develop strong and
evidenced requests to the Government for policy change and sector funding.
The campaign has a £50,000 target for industry fundraising to match funds already raised from Arts
Council England, EarthPercent, Dixon Foundation and Festival Republic. There are options for every
scale of event and industry organisations to contribute.