I attended the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) AGM this evening at the KEF Gallery in central London and met many leading lights in the organisation including CEO David Martin, Blur’s David Rowntree and renowned songwriter Katie Melua.
David, FAC Artist In Residence, gave a stirring opening speech in which he urged the industry to listen to the artist’s voice on grassroots music, AI and music streaming reform. He also paid tribute to FAC founding member, Howard Jones, who is stepping down from the board.
In addition, attendees heard from Bella Lueen (aka Levina), who presented a rebranding and expansion of the FAC’s BEAT Board – now known as the FAC Artist Council.
The event was rounded off by a panel discussion on the current economic and cultural climate moderated by NME News Editor Andrew Trendell, involving Katie, Alt-J’s Gus Unger-Hamilton, BEKA, plus Big Joanie’s Stephanie Phillips and Estella Adeyeri.
The event was supported by music industry collecting society, PPL.
My thanks to photographer Jeremy Banks for the main photo of David and myself.
This week, the MU and FAC published an open letter to the government, urging them to recognise the “cost of touring crisis” faced by performing artists, and to back recommendations made by the Culture, Media & Sport Committee to ensure a proposed ticket levy on arena and stadium events would benefit artists and independent promoters – as well as grassroots venues.
David Rowntree said:
“While we all agree that grassroots live venues need protecting, we also need to highlight that artists are enduring a cost of touring crisis. As outlined in this week’s open letter, there’s no point saving buildings, if no one can afford to tour.”
David Martin, CEO, added:
“We believe passionately that a levy system needs to be put in place as soon as possible – and in a way that benefits the widest diversity of British artists and music genres. Artist performances and the artist-fan relationship are the basis for the whole of the live music industry. If artists are not able to perform, there will be no live sector, no new scenes and a blockage on the development of new audiences.”
