LIVE Trust is delivering funding where it is most needed with an initial focus on the grassroots music sector in a bid to combat venue closures, a reduced touring circuit and festival cancellations.

The escalating cost of event production, touring and venue operation has aligned with the continuing cost of living crisis to further squeeze this vital part of the music ecosystem.

LIVE Trust was established by LIVE, the representative body for UK live music, in response to this challenge, recognising a call to action from industry, Parliament and Government.
Funding, which comes from a voluntary contribution of £1 per ticket on shows over 5000 capacity, is being placed with expert music industry organisations that can have an immediate and positive impact across the grassroots music sector.

LIVE Trust are proud to be funding the following programmes:

• Micro & Very Small Festivals Development Programme (Association of Independent Festivals)
• Independent Promoters Grassroots Bursary Scheme (Association of Independent Promoters)
• UK Artists Touring Fund (Featured Artists Coalition, Musicians Union, Music Managers Forum)
• Music Venue Support (Music Venue Trust)
• Volume Control Enhanced (Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast)
• Music Futures (Production Futures)
• Developing Scotland's Emerging Live Sector (Wide Events, Scotland)

ARD software is honoured to support the LIVE Trust website and online platform as it extends its supports to the LIVE music sector.
We also are responsible for the LIVE Music website and the LIVE Awards uses the ARD Award platform to manage their Annual Awards events which take place this year at The Troxy on Wednesday 9th December 2026.

Please contact the ARD team if you are interested in any of our leading online software solutions for the event industry - sales@ardsoftware.com