UK Launches Live Music Group

UK Music is inviting the live sector to join its board in a bid to have the entire commercial music industry represented by one umbrella body.

The move follows the establishment of the UK Live Music Group, a coming together of the live industry’s main trade associations and representative bodies.

They include the Agents Association, the Association of Festival Organisers, the Association of Independent Festivals, the Concert Promoters Association, the International Live Music Conference, the National Arenas Association, the Production Services Association and the independent venue and promoter association. The group will meet every six weeks.

“I think it is long overdue that live music was represented within a wider sphere and UK Music is the most appropriate forum,” said Live Nation Entertainment chief ops officer Paul Latham, who will represent the group on the UK Music board.

“Too many times decisions are made at a parochial level that have far-reaching consequences for our industry. Through the voice that is UK Music we would hope to become a force for proactive change.”

UK Music chief exec Feargal Sharkey said the establishment of the UK Live Music Group is hugely significant as it will be a unique and powerful voice for the sector.

“Having their input at board level will be a huge asset for this organization and we hit the ground running next week, with the publication of some groundbreaking research on music tourism,” Sharkey said.

Over the last two years, UK Music has established itself as the collective voice for the UK’s commercial music industry on issues ranging from copyright, the digital economy, access to finance and skills.

According to PRS for Music research, in 2009 revenues from live music in the UK rose by 9.4 percent to £1.5 billion. The total value of the UK music industry in 2009 was estimated at £3.9 billion.