UK Music goes live!

Industry umbrella organisation UK Music has formed a lobbying group that will aim to specifically represent the interests of the live music sector. The ‘UK Live Music group’ will encompass eight existing organisations form across the live industry including the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and the Agents Association (AA).

They will meet every six weeks and will be represented on the UK Music Board by Live Nation International Chief Operating Officer Paul Latham, who said: “I think it is long overdue that live music was represented within a wider sphere and UK Music is the most appropriate forum”.

The group is expected to discuss shared interests and challenges experienced across the live sector and to consider issues to take forward to the Government, employing UK Music’s strengths and contacts at this level.

CEO of UK Music Feargal Sharkey said: “This is a fantastic development for UK Music. The coming together of the UK Live Music Group is hugely significant in itself - establishing a unique and powerful voice for the sector”.

Alongside the AIF and AA, the UK Live Music Group will comprise the Association of Festival Organisers, Concert Promoters Association, International Live Music Conference, National Arenas Association, Production Services Association and we:Live.

As previously explored by The Gen, the live industry in the UK is experiencing a sustained boom, with revenues jumping up to 1.54bn in 2009, a 9.4% year-on-year increase as captured in the PRS report ‘Adding up the Music Industry for 2009’ published last year.