UK live music sector launches fund to underwrite tour losses
A new industry-backed fund will underwrite up to 80% of losses on eligible shows to prevent the ongoing financial collapse of UK grassroots touring.
A coalition of UK music industry groups has launched the Liveline Fund, a financial support mechanism for grassroots venues, promoters, artists, and workers. The initiative opened for applications on July 21. It was jointly established by the Music Venue Trust (MVT), Save Our Scene (SOS), and the Association of Independent Promoters (AIP).
The fund targets what the organisers describe as one of the biggest structural challenges in the sector: mounting financial risk. High travel and accommodation expenses have made touring economically unviable for many, leading to a collapse in live shows outside major urban hubs. This regional hollowing out threatens the broader talent pipeline that feeds the wider music economy.
To stabilise the market, the fund's flagship Guarantorship Scheme will underwrite up to 80% of losses on eligible events. This insurance-style mechanism is designed to absorb the financial shock of poorly attended shows. It allows independent promoters and small venues to book acts without risking insolvency.
A second stream, the Tour Extension & Regional Access Fund, directly addresses the geographical imbalance created by rising logistical costs. It subsidises routes to areas increasingly bypassed by touring artists. Meanwhile, the Local Scene Development Fund covers upfront venue hire and promoter training to make regular programming financially predictable rather than a gamble.
The final mechanism is the Genre Specific Safety and Access Fund, which allocates capital to scenes facing disproportionate costs or additional barriers when running events. "The collapse of touring across the UK requires a robust and coordinated response from venues, bookers, promoters, agents, managers and artists," says Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust. "Liveline means everyone involved in creating, producing, developing and delivering a show can move forward with confidence, get shows happening, and be focused on the need to reignite towns and cities across the country with the thrill of extraordinary live music."
