Northern Music Export Office and FAC announce new partnership to expand UK touring support for Northern artists

The Northern Music Export Office (NMEO), powered by Generator, has today announced a new partnership with the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) to deliver the UK Artist Touring Programme, providing co-investment of up to £10,000 alongside dedicated touring support for artists based in the North East, Tees Valley and West Yorkshire.

National touring is a vital step in building the audiences, revenue, live experience and industry confidence artists need before taking their careers into international markets. However, rising costs across travel, accommodation, crew and production are making it increasingly difficult for artists to deliver viable tours.

The scale of the challenge is significant. Research published by Ditto Music in January 2025 found that 84% of independent artists in the UK said they could not afford to tour, while 62.2% had turned down touring opportunities for financial reasons.

For artists, particularly those working at grassroots and emerging levels, the fixed costs of performing across small and medium-sized venues can outweigh income from ticket sales and guarantees. This can lead to fewer bookings, reduced employment across artist teams and greater financial pressure on the wider live music ecosystem.

The UK Artist Touring Programme in partnership with the FAC aims to address these barriers by reducing the financial risk of domestic touring and providing practical support to help artists plan and deliver stronger tours. The programme will support Northern artists to reach new UK audiences, grow revenue, develop their live careers and build the foundations for future international opportunities.

By partnering with the FAC, NMEO will be able to extend the reach of the programme and support significantly more Northern artists, creating more opportunities for artists to take these important next steps in their careers.

Mick Ross, CEO, Generator:
“Powered by Generator, the Northern Music Export Office is proud to be partnering with the FAC on the UK Artist Touring Programme. This significant co-investment will help Northern artists reach national audiences, build their live careers and develop the experience and confidence needed to become export-ready. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not - programmes like this help ensure that artists from the North have the support and pathways they need to build successful careers at home and internationally.”

David Martin, Chief Executive, Featured Artists Coalition:
"From day one, our intention has always been to adapt and evolve the UKAT funding model to support the demands of UK artists. We want to ensure UKAT is accessible and relevant to all genres and backgrounds. This exciting partnership with the Northern Music Export Office is forged in that spirit - allowing us to expand the fund's benefits, tap into local networks and expertise and provide targeted help to artists based in the North East, Tees Valley and West Yorkshire. I look forward to working with the NMEO in the weeks and months ahead."

Applications for the UK Artist Touring Programme in partnership with the FAC will open on Wednesday 26th August.