The UK’s live music sector has finally joined UK Music, the umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK’s commercial music industry – from artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, to major and independent record labels, music managers up, music producers, music publishers, music licensing companies and, now, the live music sector – now ensuring that, for the first time, the UK’s entire commercial music industry will be 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 whose members are The Agents Association, The AFO (the Association of Festival Organisers, representing many jazz and folk festivals), the Association of Independent Festivals (whose members include Bestival and Creamfields), The Concert Promoters Association, The International Live Music Conference, the NAA (National Arenas Association), the PSA (Production Services Association ) and we:Live, the independent venue and promoter association. The group will meet every six weeks and have nominated Paul Latham of Live Nation Entertainment to be their representative on the UK Music board.
Feargal Sharkey, chief executive of UK Music 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. 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.” According to PRS for Music research, revenues from live music in the UK rose by 9.4% in 2009 to £1.5bn. The total value of the UK music industry in 2009 was estimated at £3.9bn