My vision for live music
Newly appointed CEO of Live music industry umbrella organisation LIVE ( Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment ), Jon Collins outlines the organisation ’ s priorities under his leadership
In July 2016 , on an ominous , thunderous day in Chicago , my daughter and I made our way into the city , heading toward Soldier Field – an enormous outdoor stadium on the South Side . As we arrived , the weather worsened : a torrential storm began raining down on the 60,000 fans gathered to see Coldplay on the American leg of their tour . Fortunately , the gig went ahead , and Viva La Vida rang out from thousands of singing fans as the storm raged above us . For my daughter and I , that will always be remembered as a very special moment .
It ’ s because of events like this , the joy of discovering new bands at a festival like Bearded Theory and the sheer eclecticism of Ian Prowse ’ s Open Mic night at the Cavern that I will never turn down an opportunity to take in live music .
The British live music scene is particularly special . Live music can be heard in every corner of the country : in large stadiums , at bustling summer festivals , and in grassroots venues on local high streets . The birthplace of the Beatles , Adele , Amy Winehouse ,
Stormzy , the Rolling Stones ; British live music is the proving ground of the world ’ s biggest and brightest stars .
This unique energy is what drew me to my new position as chief executive of LIVE .
Boasting millions of fans around the world , the sector is worth £ 4.5 billion and sustains over 200,000 jobs , representing one of our country ’ s greatest cultural and economic assets .
LIVE is the beating heart of that industry . Formed in 2020 in response to the devastation posed by the Covid-19 pandemic , our ecosystem has been on a bumpy ride – venues forced to close without any Government support , the continuous threat of closure and many false starts along the way led to significant dents in everything we thought we knew about how to operate . But in the face of that
Jon Collins
hardship , the sector endured with the resilience of spirit , determination , and vibrancy that speaks to each and every single fan of live music . LIVE has made significant progress – a reduction in VAT injected
cash directly to the bottom line of struggling businesses , while wins negotiated on the international stage eased the tangle of restrictions left for touring artists post- Brexit ; from visas to a littleknown area of EU law called cabotage . Not to mention our # LetTheMusicPlay campaign which led to nearly £ 200m in direct emergency funding for the sector from Government .
In a little over two years , LIVE has become a force to be reckoned with .
As I begin my new role , there is no shortage of challenges . My commitment to the sector ? LIVE will be on the front line to protect and promote our shared interests , hand in hand with those on the ground who understand the issues best . We ’ ll be in the room shaping policy with Government – from action on VAT to achieving business rates reform – and we ’ ll be a driving force for improvements and best practice , from sustainability to diversity .
My immediate priority over the next few months is to listen and learn from the wealth of experience held in LIVE ’ s 14 member organisations , and the 3,150 businesses , 4,000 artists ,
“ Live music can be heard in every corner of the country . British live music is the proving ground of the world ’ s biggest and brightest stars .”
and 2,000 backstage workers they represent .
While the last few years have been some of the most difficult our industry has ever faced , they have also highlighted the resilience , drive and vibrancy which radiates from every single corner of this fantastic sector .
Live music in the UK has a bright future , and LIVE will be there every step of the way .
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