Touring is a costly struggle for bands like us. Now Harry Styles is helping
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- Live Trust raised £5 million from a £1 ticket levy on arena and stadium shows by stars such as Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Lily Allen, Take That, Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine, Lorde and My Chemical Romance.
- Brown Horse received almost £5,000 from the fund’s first instalment to cover accommodation, keep ticket prices affordable and pay the band for the first time in a year.
- Harry Styles contributed to the ticket levy that generated the £5 million pot for the Live Trust fund.
- David Rowntree of the Featured Artists Coalition says Brexit, Covid and the cost‑of‑living crisis have created a “cost of touring crisis” for grassroots artists.
- Featured Artists Coalition is distributing the first £500,000 of the Live Trust fund, allocating £125,000 to musicians and £375,000 to venues, promoters, festivals and producers.
Why it matters: Independent musicians like Brown Horse gain almost £5,000 to cover touring costs, while the Live Trust fund’s £125,000 allocation helps keep ticket prices affordable, supporting a healthier grassroots music ecosystem.
