Associations
CANADIAN LIVE MUSIC ASSOCIATION
DANSK LIVE (DENMARK)
The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is the voice of the country’s live industry, advancing and promoting its many economic, social and cultural benefits. CLMA’s more than 235 members include concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, presenters, venues, ticketing companies, industry associations and suppliers. Membership fees range from C$250500 (€165-330) for associate members (depending on annual budget), to C$2,500 (€1,650) for full membership. Associations or presenters pay annual fees of C$250-1,500 (€165-990), while suppliers are split into three categories, depending on annual revenues, accruing fees of C$1,250 (€825), C$2,500 (€1,650) or C$5,000 (€3,300). The CLMA was one of the first associations to quantify and share the impact of Covid-19 with government, recommending and helping to shape relief measures that would respond to the diversity of needs found within the live sector. The association advocated for – and secured – historic changes to the Business Development Bank of Canada practice regarding access to loans for live music venues and other arts organisations. Among its other lockdown successes, CLMA encouraged (and is now seeing) funding agencies flow grants quickly to clients, with flexible terms; it has championed sector-specific relief efforts that will recognise the breadth, role and value of the live sector; and it has organised a quick and efficient convening and response system for members and the live music sector, providing ongoing resources and information, and bringing the community together.
Dansk Live is the business organisation for Danish venues and festivals. In Denmark, venues do the majority of domestic programming directly, so there aren’t a lot of independent promoters, and the typical venue member is a venue with a small staff that operates in the local area. Festival members include large festivals such as Northside, Roskilde, Copenhell and Smukfest, and also smaller festivals, often organised by people in their spare time. Denmark’s live entertainment scene relies on volunteers, both at venues and at festivals. The association lobbies on behalf of its members; provides counselling; arranges industry conferences and meetings; and also compiles statistics about the live industry in Denmark. The association currently has 120 members, including 37 festivals, while the majority are venues. Membership fees are based on the size of the venue or festival and are approximately DKK7,500-42,000 (€1,000-5,630) per annum. During the coronavirus pandemic, Dansk Live has stepped up its lobbying activities and has managed to secure help for the country’s venues and festivals, albeit some Danish venues are still not receiving sufficient assistance. As elsewhere, Dansk Live staff members have been learning a lot about videoconferencing, as well as compiling pandemic-related information and helping members share knowledge on how to cope with the crisis.
EUROPEAN ARENAS ASSOCIATION Representing 33 arenas across 20 countries, the aim of the European Arenas Association (EAA) is to provide consistency, support, best practice and networking opportunities for its members, to allow and encourage them to share experiences and common ground. Membership usually costs €4,000 per year. The arena industry has been hit particularly hard in the pandemic, so support for the EEA membership during these challenging times has included: ● Surveys to establish the different protocols and procedures followed in the initial stages of the outbreak. ● Discussion platforms to allow all members to have direct contact with each other and share concerns/questions. ● Cancellation of 2020 membership fees to alleviate financial pressure. ● Lobbying the EU via the EU sub-group network.
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FEATURED ARTISTS COALITION (UK) The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) is the UK trade body representing the specific rights and interests of music artists. It is a not-for-profit organisation, serving a diverse, global membership of creators at all stages of their careers. The FAC was formed by artists, for artists, and places this ethos at the centre of all it does. It advocates, educates, collaborates and researches on behalf of artists, coming together to provide a strong collective voice within the industry and to governments domestically and abroad. Formed in 2009, by seminal artists including Billy Bragg and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, the FAC’s board still represents some of the most recognised names in the music world with current artists in residence that include Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Imogen Heap, Katie Melua, Sandie Shaw, Howard Jones, Fran Healy (Travis) and Blur’s David Rowntree. There are around 3,500 FAC members, whose fees are £5 (€5.60) monthly or £50 (€56) per year. During the pandemic, the FAC has focused on different areas at different times (as is the nature of the impact). It moved quickly to survey members to assess the immediate impact of the lockdown. That data hugely supported its lobbying efforts both within the industry and to government. FAC’s Covid-19 Directory has been keeping members up to date, while the organisation’s events have moved online to boost the community aspects of their work