UK Artists Can Now Apply for Up to £8,000 in Touring Support

A small £1 ticket levy from some of the UK’s biggest live shows is being redirected to help smaller artists and DJs stay on the road, with applications now open for the latest phase of the UK Artist Touring Fund.

Backed by a new £300,000 pot, the program allows eligible artists to apply for between £1,000 and £8,000 toward UK tours that are losing money. The funding comes through the LIVE Trust’s voluntary £1 levy on large-scale shows, with contributors including Harry Styles, Radiohead, Jessie Ware, Basement Jaxx and Max Cooper. Sub Focus recently became the first DJ to pledge the levy from his own arena dates.

The idea is aimed directly at one of touring’s biggest problems for developing artists: the cost of getting on the road can easily outpace ticket income and guarantees. Travel, accommodation, staffing and fair pay all add up, leaving artists with tours that may be successful with audiences but still lose money financially.

Through the fund, artists can request up to 40% of eligible touring costs or the documented shortfall, whichever is lower. Applicants must be 18 or older, live and work in the UK, have released original music within the last three years and have at least three confirmed UK headline shows at venues with capacities between 75 and 2,000. At least 75% of the dates must also be promoter-booked with guaranteed fees.

Budgets must reflect realistic costs, including travel, accommodation and fair pay, using the Featured Artists Coalition’s required template. The initiative was created with the Featured Artists Coalition, Music Managers Forum and Musicians’ Union as a practical response to the rising cost of touring.

In simple terms, money collected at much larger shows is now being used to help keep the next wave of UK artists moving. Applications for Phase Two of the UK Artist Touring Fund close at 11:59 PM on September 11.

Apply here