PRS for Music, the organisation that represents over 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers across the UK, has launched its Back to Live Music Venue Prize, offering independent live music venues across the UK the chance to win one of six regional prizes of up to £10,000.
Venues can be bespoke music venues or be part of another business such as a pub or bar, as long as they had an established standalone live music offering before the Covid-19 pandemic.
To enter the competition, applicants must detail how the prize money would be spent and explain what it would mean for their business to win.
Judges are looking for live music venues at the heart of their communities in which the £10,000 prize will make a real difference to the venue, music fans and local music creators.
The judging panel will be made up of leading figures and representatives from across the music, arts and hospitality sectors.
Independent live music venues are pivotal, not only in the music industry ecosystem, but within local communities – providing cultural spaces that inspire the next generation of singer-songwriters.
The devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the live music sector and music creators has been well-documented; between 2019 and 2021, PRS for Music saw an 84% decline in the number of live performance setlists reported to the organisation, falling from 124,000 in 2019, to 19,300 in 2021.
PRS for Music is keen to support these venues on the road to recovery; the competition will run throughout the year and is open to independent live music venues that are not part of a national brand.
“Back to Live Music Venue Prize will shine a light on independent music venues across the UK,” said Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO, PRS for Music.
“Venues play such an important part in the music industry ecosystem, with many featuring live performances by emerging talented songwriters and composers. We look forward to music creators once again taking the stage, and revelling in the joy that live music brings with it. Last year, we launched our On with the Show campaign to support our members returning to performing live, this initiative builds on that to ensure we can enjoy live music.”
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