On this page you can find our position papers, statements, reactions, and recommendations on current European topics related to the live music sector in particular, but also the creative and cultural sphere in general.
2024
December 2024
These 10 past years, the European live music sector saw the growth of big major companies like Live Nation, Vivendi, and CTS Eventim, who are nowadays dominating the market. This concentration of power limits opportunities for independent artists and promoters, affecting cultural diversity: the dominance of these giants often results in higher ticket prices and less variety in events, making it hard for smaller players to compete.
Being aware of these challenges, The European Union is working on the regulation of the live music sector in order to support the smaller actors and promote innovation: programs such as Creative Europe or Music Moves Europe provide funding for live music projects, support artistic development or professional training. The need for stricter regulations to ensure the European music scene remains diverse and inclusive is a priority.
Live music is highly important for the European culture, from which the necessity of maintaining an ecosystem where all artists, whether big or small, have the opportunity to express themselves and reach their audience.
Live DMA worked with Reset! Network on the subject:
ARTICLE “MAKRET DOMINANCE & CULTURAL DIVERSITY
PODCAST “INDEPENDENT VOICES FACE HIGH OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION”
RESET! ATLAS OF INDEPENDENT CULTURE AND MEDIA
Live DMA participated also in the event “Dynamic pricing: From the Oasis case to new rules” at the European Parliament, a discussion about dynamic pricing in the culture and entertainment sectors. Now, the aim is to keep the dialogue between institutions, consumers and associations towards a fairer legislation at EU level.
October 2024
These 10 past years, the European live music sector saw the growth of big major companies like Live Nation, Vivendi, and CTS Eventim, who are nowadays dominating the market. This concentration of power limits opportunities for independent artists and promoters, affecting cultural diversity: the dominance of these giants often results in higher ticket prices and less variety in events, making it hard for smaller players to compete.
Being aware of these challenges, The European Union is working on the regulation of the live music sector in order to support the smaller actors and promote innovation: programs such as Creative Europe or Music Moves Europe provide funding for live music projects, support artistic development or professional training. The need for stricter regulations to ensure the European music scene remains diverse and inclusive is a priority.
Live music is highly important for the European culture, from which the necessity of maintaining an ecosystem where all artists, whether big or small, have the opportunity to express themselves and reach their audience.
Live DMA worked with Reset! Network on the subject:
ARTICLE “MAKRET DOMINANCE & CULTURAL DIVERSITY
PODCAST “INDEPENDENT VOICES FACE HIGH OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION”
RESET! ATLAS OF INDEPENDENT CULTURE AND MEDIA
Live DMA participated also in the event “Dynamic pricing: From the Oasis case to new rules” at the European Parliament, a discussion about dynamic pricing in the culture and entertainment sectors. Now, the aim is to keep the dialogue between institutions, consumers and associations towards a fairer legislation at EU level.
9th May 2024
The One Voice for European Music initiative continued its progress during the Belgian presidency, as the leadership was passed to Belgium to continue the collaborative efforts initiated by CNM for France, SoundCzech for the Czech Republic, and Musiksverige for Sweden. Under the guidance of VI.BE and Wallonie Bruxelles Musique, 21 Belgian professional music organizations convened to deliberate on pivotal topics shaping the European music landscape. This reflection aimed to address key challenges and opportunities facing the music industry across Europe, fostering dialogue and cooperation among diverse stakeholders.
During the Belgian presidency, discussions revolved around four main topics, each critical to the advancement of the European music sector:
- EU Funding for Music: Exploring avenues for sustainable funding mechanisms to support the diversity and vibrancy of music across Europe.
- European Music Observatory: Examining the potential establishment of a centralized platform to collect data, conduct research, and provide insights into the European music industry.
- Music export, circulation of repertoire, mobility of music workers: Addressing strategies to facilitate the international mobility of artists, promote the circulation of music repertoire, and enhance opportunities for music export.
- Institutional dialogue and policy co-construction: Highlighting the importance of fostering constructive dialogue between policymakers and music industry stakeholders to develop effective policies that support the growth and sustainability of the sector.
The conclusions drawn from these discussions will be unveiled on Europe Day, May 9th, at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. This presentation will mark a milestone in the One Voice for European Music initiative, showcasing the collective efforts and insights gathered from across Europe to shape the future of the music industry in the European Union.
22nd February 2024
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE!
Live DMA calls the candidates for the European elections in June 2024 to support the live music sector. The live music venues, clubs and festivals are the music industry’s backbone to developing artists’ careers and building their audiences. From grassroots scenes to renowned stages, they are social gathering places where people meet and spend quality time together. Venues, clubs and festivals are a vital part of our neighbourhoods, in both rural and urban areas. They provide jobs, and have a significant spill-over effect on local, regional and national economies.
Together, let’s protect our European music scenes to guarantee the diversity of the music market, develop fair models and sustain the sector.
2023
1st September 2023
On behalf of a group of 70 cultural networks, Culture Action Europe has addressed a letter of concern to the EU Member States EU2023ES, inviting them to reconsider the proposed cuts by 40 million EUR to the Creative Europe budget 2024.
20th July 2023
As Spain took over the Presidency of the Council a few weeks ago, with enabling cross-border mobility for artists addressed as part of its programme, pan-European organisations IAO, IMPALA, FIM, EMEE, Live DMA, Liveurope and EMMA representing altogether musicians and other artists, independent labels, managers, music venues, clubs, festivals as well as export offices join forces to call on EU Member States to launch a dialogue with the sector around the topic of mobility as a vital component of competitiveness within the sector. This initiative addresses a gap currently not considered by the EU and follows the recommendations by recent reports to further develop discussions between the European institutions as well as music and cultural organisations.
European Parliament resolution of 23 November 2023 on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (see here)
Here are the recent resolution of the UK-EU TCA Agreement. Although touring was not the focus of this report, mobility issues, which were identified and flagged to the European Parliament, were considered in its adoption. Here below are all the adopted motions.
123. Strongly regrets the substantial increase in the number of EU citizens who have been denied entry into the UK and subsequently returned after the end of the transition period; regrets the fact that the UK applied differentiated treatment in terms of visa fees for the citizens of a number of EU countries; is concerned that visa procedures for EU citizens are lengthy and cumbersome; calls on the UK not to discriminate against EU citizens on the basis of their nationality, both in terms of registration in the EU settlement scheme and of mobility and visa issues; stresses that such practices go against the principles of reciprocity and non-discrimination set out in the TCA and calls on the Commission to closely monitor these developments;
135. Acknowledges the excessive bureaucracy created by the withdrawal of the UK from the EU; notes with concern the uncertainties and difficulties created for students, teachers, artists and cultural professionals willing to learn, teach, perform and work in the UK, in particular the lack of available information on administrative requirements, and the unprecedented administrative burden on the UK’s and Member States’ consulates and administrations;
155. Regrets the absence of any provisions linked to culture and the cultural and creative sectors in the TCA following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the end of UK participation in free movement, resulting in administrative obstacles facing touring artists, especially for emerging and independent artists;
156. Encourages new and continuous cooperation between EU and UK artists and other professionals in the cultural and creative sectors and industries; regrets that the number of EU citizens working in the cultural and creative sectors and industries in the UK has dropped since Brexit;
2022
28th September 2022
The “One Voice for European Music” process is designed to strengthen the EU’s action in the field of support to the music sector.
The initiative used the momentum of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU to deliver an actionable and realistic set of policy measures designed to better support the music ecosystem at EU level and beyond. The CNM launched a consultation process with a wide spectrum of representative organizations at EU-level to deliver a collegial and inclusive forum for policy debate, through a bottom-up approach of thematic working groups, culminating with a clear and directly workable policy deliverable.
In continuation of the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) initiative, SoundCzech, the Czech Music Office, launched working group meetings to address the current state and overall status of European venues, and also the question of the status of artists. The aim of these was to provide a new set of recommendations within the framework of the One Voice for European Music initiative.
Two thematic working groups, each holding two discussion sessions, focused on different key priorities identified through preliminary consultation with the sector, organized on the 28th of September in Prague.
18th May 2022
Live music actors raised issues facing an increase in cancellations of artistic performances and international tours in the Eastern region as a consequence of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. With this letter, we wish to reaffirm that it is safe to perform in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, and it is important in solidarity with the people of Ukraine to show that our European culture and creative communities are unstoppable and unafraid.
4th April 2022
Over 140 representatives from across Europe’s live performance sector have signed an open letter calling for the European Union to introduce tougher laws on online marketplaces. The signatories, who represent the worlds of pop, ballet, opera, theatre, comedy and more, are fed up with Europe’s exploitative ticket resale market, which drains hundreds of millions of euros from the live sector annually.
The letter focuses on the EU’s upcoming Digital Services Act, a regulation designed to make the internet safer. It comes ahead of a crunch meeting due to take place on Tuesday 15th March. Signatories include managers, agents and promoters for Ed Sheeran, Rammstein, Christine and the Queens, Robbie Williams, Jean-Michel Jarre, Alejandro Sanz, Hélène Grimaud, Parov Stelar, Måneskin, Die Ärzte, Yann Tiersen and Sigur Rós; plus many festivals, venues, industry groups and performers.
2nd March 2022
ACTIVATE THE EUROPEAN LIVE MUSIC NETWORK TO HELP THE UKRAINIAN MUSIC SECTOR
Live DMA condemns the Russian government’s violation of territorial law and the violence towards civilian people and war in general. If you are in contact with artists and music operators in need in Ukraine, you can activate our European network for support and solidarity. We commit to help them go through this crisis.
If you are looking for trustworthy organisations to donate or get informed about the situation in Ukraine, here are a few suggestions:
✧ https://linktr.ee/RazomForUkraine
✧ https://redcross.org.ua/donate/
✧ https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyivindependent-launch
✧ https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent
THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL COMMUNITY UNITES TO CONDEMN THE INVASION OF UKRAINE
The European Cultural Community deplores the damages caused to a free country and expresses solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who are our friends, colleagues, artistic and cultural partners. Our organisations are ready to receive and host artists, to stage performances, to organise events, to inform and facilitate access to resources, to advocate for a peaceful solution.
We can’t do this alone, therefore we unite to spread the word and show that, together, we can promote and establish dialogue, mutual respect, and artistic freedom.
2021
15th July 2021
Together with 7 live events and creators organisations, we welcome the EU guidelines on the reopening of cultural venues & highlight additional measures to be taken to facilitate the free movement of artists.
Following two letters asking the European Commission for the implementation of a reopening strategy with recommendations on the necessary steps, this new letter aims to ensure a free movement of artists and cultural professionals in Europe.
1st July 2021
76 International, European & national music organisation are “Claiming a front row seat for music” calling for policy makers to fully acknowledge the artistic, social and economic value of the music sector and to live up to these words in political decision making!
After 15 months of lockdowns all over Europe without concerts, festivals, clubs and other live music events, the music sector is not yet saved, despite some reopenings in many countries. It is a crucial time to reboost the sector and help it to recover from this unexpected pandemic.
Therefore, following two joint letters on reopening and relaunch of the live music sector, we, with 75 other signatories, continue to communicate with the European Commission to ensure that the live music sector if not forgotten. In this new letter, we propose some guidelines to ensure a front row seat for music in the future.
15th June 2021
On the occasion of the EU-US summit taking place in Brussels on June 15th, where the american president Joe Biden meets the representatives of the EU institutions, Live DMA with 107 other cultural associations signed a joint letter.
This letter was drafted by Pearle, the European association for music, performing arts and live performance organisations, and colleagues from the US. It aims to take advantage of the event to draw attention to visa and work permit issues that are encountered when traveling to US or on the contrary to Europe. Together, we call on the US and EU to reinforce the cultural relations to facilitate the travel conditions for artists and cultural professionals.
29th April 2021
European Associations from the performing and live music sector address a joint letter to Commissioner Mariya Gabriel (Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth) and Commissioner Thierry Breton (Internal Market).
Following a first letter asking the European Commission for the implementation of a reopening strategy, this new letter aims to share recommendations on the necessary next steps to be taken for a coordinated safe reopening of live music events.
It is more than ever the time to start acting, with a cultural sector standing still for more than a year now. The live music sector more particularly is suffering very badly from the situation, with a second pandemic summer coming up.
22nd March 2021
European Associations from the performing and live music sector address a joint letter to Commissioner Breton (Internal Market).
“Together, we are asking for a coordinated post-lockdown strategy for Europe’s cultural venues and events.”
During the last year, European associations and their national members have been working relentlessly on proposals to provide support to the cultural sector and guidelines on reopening protocols for the live music stages. Once again, we are ready to offer our expertise and experience to the European Commission’s efforts towards helping Europe and the Member States to adapt to the situation and to share guidelines for the safe resumption of activities.
Within this letter, Live DMA calls on a clear vision in favour of the reopening of cultural venues in every European country, a long-term support to the sector to adapt audience restrictions, and a coordinated strategy for touring conditions in Europe.
“Live music venues, clubs and festivals are still in the middle of the crisis. We are very concerned about the mental health of the staff working in live music who had to continuously adapt with a lack of recognition by public authorities. We need to foresee what comes next. Venues, clubs and festivals are important spaces of socialization which cannot be replaced by live streaming. This is why we call for a reopening under safe conditions, including amateur practices and educational activities. Music organisations need a financial and structural support until music venues and clubs activities go back to normal. More than ever, we must support our local music scenes.“
Audrey Guerre, Live DMA’s coordinator
19th March 2021
Following the open letter published by more than 110 pan-European networks on 30 October 2020 “Make culture central in the EU recovery”, the group comes together again to reiterate their call to the national governments and the European Commission. In the second open letter published today by the group, coordinated by Culture Action Europe, the European cultural community call on the Member States and the European Commission to secure a future for culture and cultural life in Europe.
Culture must be included in each and every National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) that EU countries should present to the European Commission before the 30 April deadline. The representatives of the European cultural ecosystem urge governments to dedicate at least 2% of the Recovery Fund to culture and put culture as a priority sector when using funds from Next Generation EU.In addition, 110 cultural networks call on the Member States to engage with the representatives of their cultural communities and civil society organisations in the design and implementation of the NRRPs. “Long-term structural support to rebuild the European cultural ecosystem needs to be co-developed, involving all relevant stakeholders, both public and private”, – reads the letter.
Ensuring that culture is explicitly included in the NRRPs will help secure both the future of the sector and its important contribution to Europe’s future. Reinvigorating the cultural ecosystem not only offers hope to millions of workers who saw their jobs endangered by the pandemic, it can also create new meaning and purpose to all Europeans and the European project.
11th January 2021
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC BY LIVE MUSIC ASSOCIATIONS IN EUROPE AS PART OF LIVE DMA
At the onset of this new year, live music associations are unanimous: they wish music venues and clubs to open again in adequate conditions and to secure the festival season, as well as for these scenes to be provided substantial financial support. While calling for immediate measures to reinforce the protection of the live music sector and secure its survival, Live DMA members look ahead to exit strategies. 20 live music associations, representing more than 3000 live music venues, clubs, and festivals from 17 European countries participated in a survey about the effects of the pandemic on the sector on short and long term.
This report gives information about the live music associations’ main priorities for 2021 and what actions they need and expect from governments. It also contains Live DMA’s recommendations to policy makers.
Read more details in the new Live DMA publication ‘2021 – STAY ALIVE – EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC BY LIVE DMA & ITS MEMBERS.
2020
16th November 2020
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is extremely harsh for the live music sector, already strained by months of adjustments and uncertainties. The precarious situation of many venues, clubs, and festivals increases day by day and hundreds of live music stages are at imminent risk of closing permanently. The diversity of the entire music ecosystem is at stake! In reaction, Live DMA calls for reinforced and equal support to local music scenes everywhere in Europe.
Straightforward, this publication explains straight to the point what live music organisers are going through since March 2020 and points to the open wounds that urgently need to be taken care of.
2nd November 2020
Together with 109 pan-European cultural networks and organisations, we published an open letter on October 30, 2020, to call the European Union (EU) and EU member states to protect culture as part of the coronavirus recovery plans and dedicate at the very least 2% of national Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) budget to culture and creative sectors.
As societies are going through unprecedented turmoil, the efforts calls on the EU and its Member States to place culture at the core of each and every recovery plan, which aims at a sustainable, inclusive and future-looking revival of our social and economic life.
Cultural and creative sectors (CCSs) themselves are among the most seriously damaged by the pandemic. Cultural activities are being halted, millions of jobs are frozen or wiped out, micro and small businesses are on the brink of bankruptcy and many talents are forced to leave the sector altogether.
The pan-European community of 110 networks and associations, urges that CCSs are consulted in the design of and integration in the national recovery and resilience plan of their respective countries.
Namely, the signatories ask that at the very least 2% of the national RRF budget is allocated to the CCSs, as called for by the European Parliament in its recent Resolution on the “Cultural Recovery of Europe”, and that culture is an integral part of recovery and resilience plans, that could be also mainstreamed across the flagship initiatives identified by the Commission.
5th October 2020
Today, 26 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors wrote to European Commissioners Thierry Breton (Internal Market) and Paolo Gentiloni (Economy) regarding the EU’s flagship investment programme InvestEU.
The programme is facing severe cuts which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of cultural and creative businesses to access much needed affordable debt and equity financing.
With this letter, which you can read below, the signatories urge the EU to ensure that the cultural and creative sector benefits from an appropriate level of support via InvestEU.
8th September 2020
Over 250 European cultural leaders and arts organisations have signed the letter below urging the UK’s Secretary of State, Rt Hon Oliver Dowden to reverse the decision to take the UK out of Creative Europe, the EU’s funding programme for the cultural and creative sectors.
This joint action was initiated by D6 – Culture in transit.
#Together4CreativeEurope.
18th June 2020
As the EU has started discussing the proposed recovery plan, 99 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors are uniting their voices to alert EU leaders: our sector needs strong and systemic support measures to recover from this crisis.
To bring the EU’s support for our sector to a level that is commensurate with its contribution to the EU’s economy and its citizens’ wellbeing, we call on Member States and the European Parliament:
- To push for a substantial increase of the Creative Europe budget. We fully support the European Parliament’s proposal for a budget of €2.8bn.
- To guarantee that the entire sector can benefit appropriately from the recovery plan’s various instruments.
4th June 2020
Despite its historic relevance, the revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal presented by the European Commission on 27 May is unambitious for culture. Member States now have the opportunity to show that a forward-looking strategy for the Europe of tomorrow does not leave culture and its ecosystem behind.
Live DMA supports Culture Action Europe calling on Member States ahead of the European Council Meeting on 19 June to:
- Double the budget of Creative Europe to 2,6 billion euros, as the core programme for reinforcing European cultural cooperation. (#Double4Culture).
- Make sure that the additional funds stemming from the Next Generation EU initiative, such as REACT-EU, reach cultural operators.
6th May 2020
Europe’s cultural and creative sectors were among the first and hardest hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. They will also be among the last. Across Europe, almost all cultural activities have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely, while venues and retailers have closed with disastrous consequences for all creators’ and cultural and creative professionals’ livelihoods, as well as the ecosystem as a whole. Millions of jobs are on the line.
In these hard times, as the contribution of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors to the social, economic and artistic development of Europe couldn’t be more tangible, yet our sectors find themselves in danger of partial collapse, it is more important than ever to preserve and support Europe’s arts, culture and heritage and the values they promote.
Investing in our culture is investing in our future.
Now is the time to turn words into concrete measures.
2nd April 2020
Music is one of the first sectors hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. It will also be one of the last.
As borders close, venues as well as festivals suspend their activities, performances are cancelled, group activity is stopped, shops close, and new releases are put on hold, the entire creative value chain is stalling. Artists and their management, performers, composers, songwriters, music educators, conductors, booking agents, record shops, labels, publishers, distributors, promoters, manufacturers, technicians, events managers and event staff count among the many actors of the ecosystem whose livelihoods are on the line.
Music and culture are essential to offer citizens the renewed social and cultural bond that Europe will sorely need.
As decision makers reflect on how to address the crisis, culture must be recognised as a priority sector.
26th March 2020
Live DMA supports Culture Action Europe‘s letter pointing out the effects of the Covid-19 Sanitary crisis on networks & cooperation projects supported by the Creative Europe programme and on the European Culture & Creative Sectors.
The coronavirus has affected all countries in Europe, and it is already evident that the cultural sector is and will be heavily impacted. On behalf of European Cultural Networks, platforms and cultural organisations, Culture Action Europe wrote a joint letter on the 20th of March, 2020 to the Commissioner Gabriel and Members of Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). The letter lists our proposals regarding the ways to cope with the consequences of COVID-19 on Creative Europe and the European Cultural and Creative Sectors.
13th March 2020
The global outbreak of COVID-19 required governments in Europe to react fast and order precautions to avoid the spreading of the virus. The measures taken restricting social gatherings in particular, creates a high degree of uncertainty among the actors of the live music sector.
Live DMA welcomes the Corona Response Investment Initiative of 37 billion Euro announced by the European Commission and emergency funds initiatives announced by certain governments. Venues, clubs, and festivals represented by the Live DMA network are small and medium enterprises and vulnerable parts of our economic system that needs specific support in this particular context. In this sense, we call for concrete measures for live music organisations that can be implemented quickly.
Related links:
2019
29th November 2019
Live DMA, with 7 other European organisations of the live music sector, wrote a joint letter in support of a sectorial focus on music in Creative Europe (2021-2027).
“[The EU Commission & Parliament’s support to Music Moves Europe and the inclusion of “diversity and competitiveness of the music sector” as a key topic in the Work Plan for Culture 2019-2020] are great signals towards the realisation of a music policy at EU level, but their impact will be limited if they are not better reflected in the future Creative Europe programme.
We need to seize this chance now and build on the momentum created with Music Moves Europe to give a much needed boost to the competitiveness and diversity of the European music sector.
We hope we can count on the Council to pursue this commitment by reinforcing the focus of the future Creative Europe programme on music.”
21st November 2019
Live DMA co-signed with 92 other European cultural organisations a joint letter for an increased budget for Creative Europe 2021-2027.
“Today, Creative Europe represents a mere 0,15% of the overall EU Budget. This is by no means proportionate to our sectors’ contribution to the EU economy, which stands at €509bn in value added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s work force).
Our culture and our talents support artistic freedom and media pluralism, which are crucial for maintaining open, inclusive and creative societies. Yet, culture is low on the EU’s political agenda, and these sectors remain structurally underfinanced. The financing gap for Europe’s cultural and creative SMEs alone is estimated to be somewhere between €8bn and €13bn.
This is why we welcome the European Parliament’s proposal to increase the Creative Europe budget to €2.8bn. We call on the Council to support this much-needed boost to the future of Europe’s arts, culture and heritage, and the values they promote.“
15th November 2019
Live DMA supports Culture Action Europe’s statement “Securing a Sustainable Future for the European Non-Profit Cultural Sector”.
We call on European institutions’ support for non-profit organisations active on local, regional, national and European level that wish to work in a European context and contribute to building a stronger European Union.
30th September 2019
As part of the European Music Council (EMC) board, Live DMA supports the decision taken by EMC members to take action to reduce the effects of the climate crisis the world currently faces.
In the frame of the EMC Annual Meeting of 27 September 2019, the EMC members unanimously decided that EMC will take action in its activities to help achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
Since its Annual Meeting in June 2017, the EMC reflected on the Climate Neutral Now initiative of UNFCCC, and the EMC aims at joining this campaign during the 10th European Forum on Music in June 2020 in Bonn, which will focus on “Climate Action: Music as a Driver for Change”.
Already now, EMC is raising awareness for a more sustainable behaviour in the music sector:
- Tips for office and event management
- Session on “Global Warming Awareness” at the 9th European Forum on Music
- A collection of useful ideas and links in the STAMP toolbox
- Dedicated activities within Erasmus+ funded SHIFT project, starting in December 2019
- Many EMC members already have a greater awareness of environmental challenges, you will find their initiatives here.
Music can be a Driver for Change – let us use this potential to raise awareness for environmental challenges.
24th September 2019
Now that the proposed amendments to the 2020 general budget are heading to the Budget committee for consideration, we are writing to reaffirm the support of the European music sector for this Preparatory Action.
The idea of Music Moves Europe is to pave the way towards sectorial support for music in the future Creative Europe programme 2021-2027, in line with the European Commission’s Creative Europe 2021-2027 proposal and the European Parliament’s Creative Europe Resolution which both highlight the need to increase the focus of the future programme on music.
We are very grateful for the support of the European Parliament for the first two editions of Music Moves Europe (with budgets of respectively €1.5m in 2018 and €3m in 2019), and we hope we can count on you to support the Culture committee’s proposed amendment and budget for the third edition of the Preparatory Action.
17th September 2019
On 10 September, European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her new Commission, with a structure of 8 Vice Presidents who stand for the new work priorities of the Commission. At the heart of the work of the European Commission will be climate change, technology and demography that are transforming our societies and way of life.
Live DMA welcomes these set priorities and is convinced that culture and music have a big role to play. We therefore ask to re-introduce the term culture in the title of the designated Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, that is currently missing in her title “Innovation and Youth”.
We also ask a change in the title of the Vice President Margaritis Schinas for “Protecting the European Way of Life” so as to render the diversity of way of lives in Europe and to avoid connecting Europe with ideas of protectionism and rejection of others.
Culture is included in the Treaty of Lisbon (Art.167) and the “New European Agenda for Culture” adopted in May 2018 sets out the priorities for the coming years by building a stronger Europe through new initiatives for education, culture and youth. We therefore call upon the President of the European Commission to reinforce the role of culture for the development of the European Union.
With the College, President-elect von der Leyen suggests an open and inclusive way of working – such a cooperative way is ideal to mainstream culture in all policy areas and Live DMA calls on the European Commission to give room to culture in all its policy areas.
Live DMA highly welcomes the words of the mission letter to Commissioner Gabriel that state “culture is about freedom of expression, identity and diversity”. With this in mind, we look forward to exchanging with the designated Commissioner on the role of culture, its policies and the EU funding programmes for culture.
#BringCultureBack
Related links:
1st July 2019
Any future environmental noise regulation must safeguard the cultural rights to live music and artistic freedom.
This paper provides guidance for the drafting of a good urban policy in relation to live music.
The recommendations come from a working group comprising live music experts from across Europe who worked together in Antwerp and Madrid to lay out the statement ‘Music is Not Noise’ and qualify this with facts to illustrate the argument and why it is important.
READ THE WHITE PAPER (EN)
Other languages:
- White Paper “Music is not Noise” – Spanish
- White Paper “Music is not Noise”- Catalan
- White Paper “Music is not Noise” – Finnish
- White Paper “Music is not Noise” – French
- White Paper “Music is not Noise” – Swedish
Related links:
25th June 2019
Live DMA’s 2019 European Parliamentary elections campaign was a great success! We succeeded in advocating for better conditions for the live music sector in Europe and informing our members about the different visions and commitments the MEPs candidates took during this campaign.
Read the full report of the campaign for more information as well as a short reminder on how institutions of the European Union function.
21st May 2019
Together with 100 representatives from the European music sector, Live DMA participated at the dialogue with the European Commission about Music Moves Europe. Tamás Szucs, new director of DG EAC, opened this two days session by directing the dialogue towards a diverse, sustainable and competitive music ecosystem for Europe.
The two days meetings were rhythmed by two small group discussions about the future of music media and about live music, as well as by two panels that aimed to explain the guarantee facility, and the implementation of the Copyright Directive.
- THE EU GUARANTEE FACILITY
The EU guarantee facility provides loans for small and medium sized organisations to invest in equipment, but also manages capacity building workshops to teach the financial sector how to see the creative sector as a reliable one. For now, 20 music projects on sound recording and music publishing were financed through the guarantee facility in Spain, France, Czech Republic and Belgium where agreements with financial intermediaries have been established.
- THE COPYRIGHT DIRECTIVE
The Copyright Directive implementation is now starting in the member states. The goal is not to reopen negotiations at national level. It will be a compliance exercise for YouTube and a responsibility for collecting societies to now leverage agreements with the platforms.
- GROUP DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF LIVE MUSIC AND MUSIC MEDIA
The small group sessions led to rich discussions among the participants and helped to better understand the subsectors’ challenges. The objective was to tackle trends, risks and opportunities related to music diversity.
The most important topics mentioned during these sessions ranged from algorithms transparency, systems of recommendations and new music curators, audience practices and patterns, trainings about digital and entrepreneurial skills to concentration, secondary ticketing, urban densification and gentrification, dialogue with local authorities, new generations, new live music formats, and positive social impact. Climate change was mentioned several times as the representatives are aware and wish to see more investment in the music sector’s transition.
Most of the participants’ inputs come from empirical assumptions and will need to be research based for future policy development.
The EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics concluded the meeting affirming that the dialogue would remain open. Next stop for the structured dialogue between the sector and the European Commission will be at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg this autumn.
6th May 2019
Live DMA takes part in Culture Action Europe advocacy letter to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk. We ask to “include culture and live music as an intrinsinc part of Europe’s future”.
As Culture Action Europe explains:
“At his 2017 State of the European Union address, President Juncker unveiled a roadmap detailing the main steps towards a more united, stronger and more democratic Union. Building on this, national leaders met in Tallinn, Estonia, and agreed on a Leaders’ Agenda – a list of the most pressing issues and challenges for which solutions should be found, ahead of the European elections in 2019. On 9 May 2019, at a summit in Sibiu, Romania, national leaders are expected to mark the culmination of this process with a renewed commitment to an EU that delivers on the issues that really matter to people.
Ahead of the Sibiu summit, Culture Action Europe sent an open letter to the President Donald Tusk calling to make culture an integral part of the future of Europe in Sibiu.”
In order to create a better future, culture is a necessity.
9th April 2019
LIVE DMA’S 2019 EP ELECTIONS STATEMENT
As part of the Live DMA 2019 EP elections’ campaign, we released a statement aimed at MEP candidates and policy-makers. This advocacy tool for live music venues, clubs and festivals asserts the values and goals shared by our network and affirms our position as stakeholder for the live music sector.
With this statement we request that live music and its transversal issues be at the core of the EU policies. We advocate for the dialogue between live music actors and politicians to continue, so policy-makers may implement informed and beneficial measures for the sector.
In this statement, we commit:
- To represent a collective voice based on the democratic participation of our members.
- To cooperate and provide accurate knowledge and expertise on the sector’s challenges to policy makers through Data collection (The Survey) and exchange of knowledge (the resource platform).
- To cooperate with various partners in order to build collectively a strong and coherent sector (working on topics such as culture, music, research, cities, health, social, economy).
- To promote the general interest in adequation with European values and cultural rights.
We also call on the EU to ensure:
- The renewal of the support on Creative Europe with more budget to achieve ambitious plans.
- The support of the live music sector with dedicated actions on circulation, training schemes, observation as it was started with the Music Moves Europe program.
- The organisation of a dialogue between the sector and policy makers to cooperate on the design and implementation of public policies.
- The nurturing and protection of the diversity of organisations (from small and medium sized independent companies to non-profit organisations) facing multinational companies seeking private profit only.
- The connections and the culture with other sectors and EU programs[
- The recognition of venues for their cultural and social values and not only as entertainment and facilitate their access to funding and/or beneficial tax regimes.
- The development of a fair legislation that does not solely accommodate large corporate monopolies.
- The support of the sector’s structuration by strengthening representative national and European associations.
20th March 2019
The UK Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee released their live music report and we welcome that it puts a particular attention to the smallest and most fragile live music venues and clubs.
One of the key messages of this report coming from the government is to protect, secure and improve the conditions of the grassroots. Music Venue Trust has been engaging with the government in the case for venues and clubs for the last 5 years and this is a huge accomplishment for their work and a big motivation for Live DMA and its members all over Europe!
2018
13th December 2018
75 organisations from the cultural sector joined forces in a call to the European Institutions to take into consideration the specific needs of the sector in the context of the trilogue negotiations on the Revision of the Visa Code.
We underline that the cultural sector in Europe desires transparent and easy application processes when inviting artists, cultural professionals, touring groups, and others from visa-required countries. A diverse cultural offer in Europe’s concert venues and clubs, theatres and festivals, city events or other cultural initiatives, allows to attract audiences, generate income for the cultural and creative sectors, as well as for other economic sectors (tourism, bars, restaurants, hotels…) and public sources.
25th September 2018
At the occasion of the consultation process regarding the future of the Creative Europe programme, Live DMA reaffirms its position and calls for an ambitious programme for the music and cultural sector in Europe:
In May 2017, the European Commission published a proposal for the future of Creative Europe 2021-2027, with a budget increase. Live DMA welcomes this initiative and wish to contribute to the evolution of the programme with the following recommendations.
17th September 2018
In reaction to the European Commission’s proposal for the future EU Cohesion policy, the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts advocates for a citizen-oriented approach of the Cohesion Policy supporting active citizenship and the involvement by communities and individuals.
The statement highlights the essential role of culture and the creative sectors and calls on the European institution to
- Include culture through all investment priorities and acknowledge the intrinsic value of culture and the arts.
- Adopt a citizen-centred approach to the EU’s Cohesion Policy.
- Encourage Member States to embed culture in their Operational Programmes.
- Simplify access for cultural actors to Regional Development & Cohesion Funds.
- Explore and deepen synergies between the Cohesion Policy Funds and the Creative Europe programme.
18th September 2018
Live DMA is member of the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts. The Alliance gathers 35 European networks urging policy makers to re-think the European approach and include culture and the arts in the long-term strategic goals of the European project.As member of the Alliance, we collectively produce and disseminate position papers addressed to policy makers:
- Citizen-oriented Cohesion Policy with a prominent place for culture – September 2018
- Reaction of the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts to the European Commission’s proposal for the EU future budget – June 2018
- Post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework: Call for a substantial and meaningful support for culture and the arts as generators of an EU added value – January 2018
- Statement on the European Commission’s Communication “Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture” – November 2017
- Statement on Culture in regions and cities – October 2017
- Statement on the Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe – June 2017
- G7 Cultural Summit: Open Letter to the Cultural Ministers of France, Italy and Germany – March 2017
- Culture at the heart of a sustainable Europe: Political Statement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties – January 2017
- No Sustainable Development without Culture – December 2016
9th April 2018
Together with 66 organisations from across the European cultural and creative sectors, we are urging the European Union to give a significant and much-needed boost to the EU’s budget dedicated to culture.
In this joint letter, we share our thoughts on the place of culture in the EU budget ahead of the presentation by the European Commission of its draft Regulation for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework in May 2018.
The cultural and creative sectors provide more than 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s work force), and create approximately €509bn in value added to GDP (5.3 % of the EU’s total GVA)1. This is to be contrasted with the €1,4bn allocated to the EU support programme for culture, Creative Europe, over a period of 7 years, which represents 0,15% of the overall EU budget…
29th March 2018
Live DMA joined the civil engagement campaign Take a Stand initiated by Yourope (European network for festivals).
We are mobilizing to promote and encourage citizen initiatives in favor of a social and intercultural Europe, based on the values of solidarity and openness. Our concerts and festivals bring together millions of spectators who share the same taste for music but who also share spaces, events, memories, experiences… In the same way, Take A Stand encourages all those who are in favor of a common European ideal to express and take action, and involves many professionals in the sector around this campaign.
Yourope declares
”It is time to take a stand for Europe and the whole world. In order to create a movement that encourages social cohesion in our societies; In order to promote the tolerance of all cultures, genres, religions, sexual orientations, and origins.”
Who needs to take a stand?
- Everybody in favor of the European ideal and its values, all who believe in peace, inclusion and dialogue as opposed to fear and exclusion.
- We welcome all music related professionals to join Take a Stand: festivals, venues and promoters are invited to become ambassadors and partners of this campaign. You can fill out the agreement of partnership and return it with your logo.
22nd March 2018
On Wednesday the 21st of March 2018, the European Music Council invited the stakeholders of the European music sector to Brussels for the official launch of the European Agenda For Music – a strategic and visionary document that defines the sector’s collective needs and sets out priorities for the future.
More than just a document, the European Agenda For Music is a powerful confirmation of the European music sector’s desire to join together in the promotion of a common cause. The agenda converges the European music sector’s many voices in order to establish an ongoing dialogue between policy makers and music sector stakeholders. It details which directions to pursue in order to ensure a music sector that remains strong, fair, innovative and diverse in a rapidly changing world.
Live DMA was involved in the “live” working group that took place in September 2016 in Hamburg at the Reeperbahn Festival. We have also actively participated at the proofreading and online consultation process. We were more than happy to finally assist the release of the European Agenda for Music on the 21st of March in Brussels.
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