PRS for Music has launched a Back to Live Music Venue Prize in Wales to help local music venues come back better than ever before.
PRS for Music, the organisation that represents over 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers across the UK, has today launched its Back to Live Music Venue Prize in Wales. The nationwide competition will offer independent live music venues across the UK the chance to win one of six regional prizes of up to £10,000, helping to improve live music experiences for the local community, music creators, performers and music fans.
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 approximately 124,000 in 2019 to 19,300 in 2021.
With restrictions now being lifted across the UK, music creators are eager to get back on stage and fans to once again enjoy live music. PRS for Music looks to support venues on the road to recovery; ‘Venues play such an important part in the music industry ecosystem, with many featuring live performances by emerging talented songwriters and composers,’ said Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music. ‘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 that live music.’
PRS for Music’s Back to Live Music Venue Prize competition will run throughout the year and is open to independent live music venues that are not part of a national brand. 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.
CHROMA, the bilingual, alt-rock trio from Pontypridd, has been announced as the competition’s ambassador for Wales. ‘We cut our teeth playing in independent venues,’ they said. ‘They’re the future of music’s breeding grounds where bands and music creators can find their feet in the live environment, build a fanbase and connect with peers also touring on the circuit.’
To enter the competition, applicants must detail how the prize money would be spent and what it would mean for their business to win. Judges are looking for live music venues at the heart of their communities for which the £10,000 prize would make a real difference not only to the venue itself, but also to the fans and local music creators. The panel will be made up of leading figures and representatives from across the music, arts and hospitality sectors.
Entries are now open on the PRS for Music website.
