21.09.2015: UK Music is proud to be announced as an associate partner of Venues Day 2015.

The event on October 20th at Ministry of Sound will feature UK Music CEO, Jo Dipple on the opening panel alongside Steve Lamacq, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Culture Secretary Michael Dugher MP, BPI CEO Geoff Taylor, Joyce Wilson, Mark Davyd to discuss the threat to the UK’s live music scene caused by the closing of many of our cherished small venues.

See below for full press release:

UK Music announced as Associate Partners to Venues Day 2015

Opening panel of Venues Day to feature Steve Lamacq, Ed Vaizey, Michael Dugher, Geoff Taylor, Joyce Wilson, Mark Davyd and Jo Dipple

Music Venue Trust is delighted to announce that UK Music has joined the partners supporting Venues Day 2015 which takes place on Tuesday 20 October at Ministry of Sound, London. The partnership will see UK Music host and chair the opening panel of the day, titled Big Issues for Small Venues: Turning Words Into Actions.

Since the first Venues Day event in December 2014, awareness of the precarious position in which the UK’s small independent venues find themselves has grown enormously. Music Venue Trust, the charity created to champion and protect the nation’s grassroots music, continues to lead this work and is putting together this year’s networking day for highlighting and discussing the key issues. Venues Day 2015 is the only national event aimed specifically at the people who run small to medium scale independent music venues.

The day will offer panels, workshops, seminars and networking on three themes identified as the Big Issues for Small Venues; Turning Words into Action; Business Up – Be Inspired; Costs Down – Be Efficient.

Delegates will have opportunity to learn about schemes that will help their business and save them money, tech initiatives and audience development projects which could bring new punters to their venues. There will be representatives from leading music industry businesses, cultural organisations and advisors on issues such as accessing finance, insurance, licensing and legal issues.

UK Music presents Big Issues For Small Venues is the opening panel of the day and will see representatives from key players in the UK music and cultural industry talk about the next steps for grassroots music venues. The panel will feature Culture Minster Ed Vaizey and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture Michael Dugher, BBC Radio 6Music presenter Steve Lamacq, Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, Arts Council England (London Area Director) Joyce Wilson, and Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust.

Jo Dipple, Chief Executive of UK Music, will Chair the panel, which is likely to provide a lively debate about what needs to be done to protect, secure and improve the UK’s grassroots music venues.

Jo Dipple of UK Music said: “UK Music is proud to be a partner of Venues Day for a second year running. Last year’s event will be remembered for bringing grassroots music venues together for the first time. I want this year’s event to be the moment when decisive action is agreed to save music venues in the face of considerable threats.”

“It is clear that the legislative framework was not written with the interests of grassroots music venues in mind. Politicians have an opportunity to change the law and a responsibility in making the areas they represent the best places to work, rest and play. It is vital that we have a sustainable venue circuit and I look forward to exploring with the panel at Venues Day how this may be achieved.”

Venues Day 2015 is a one day event, running from 10.30am – 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 October at Ministry of Sound, London.

Thanks to a headline partnership with live music subscription app Jukely, Grassroots Music Venues from across the UK can apply for one free delegate pass and travel assistance by emailing beverley@musicvenuetrust.com

General delegate passes are available now priced £80 from https://www.musicglue.com/venues-day

Further event details will be announced on the MVT website in the next two weeks: http://www.musicvenuetrust.com