UK Live Music Group appoints new chair

International Live Music Conference (ILMC) managing director Greg Parmley has been named the new chair of the UK Live Music Group.

Parmley succeeds outgoing chair Paul Latham, president and COO of Live Nation UK, who announced his retirement last month after more than three decades in the live music industry.

The UK Live Music Group, which meets every six weeks, is represented on the board of UK Music, the umbrella association for the UK music industry. The group contributes to UK Music’s policy development and brings together various component parts of Britain’s live music business.

In addition to ILMC, UK Live comprises the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), Association of Festival Organisers (AFO), Concert Promoters Association (CPA), Entertainment Agents Association (AAGB), National Arenas Association (NAA), Production Services Association (PSA), Music Venue Trust (MVT) and Association for Electronic Music (AFEM).

“UK Live has achieved an enormous amount under Paul’s watch, and while his are some extremely big shoes to fill, I’m excited to be taking the group forward,” comments Parmley. “With live music’s role in the wider music value chain more significant than ever, and issues from Brexit to secondary ticketing on the table, there’s a lot to do in the coming months.”

“Greg commands huge respect in the live music industry. He is the ideal person to take on the mantle”

Previous wins for the UK Live Music Group include:

• Campaigning alongside Music Venue Trust to achieve the introduction of the agent-of-change principle in England, Wales and Scotland to protect music venues from closure
• Securing progress in the elimination of barriers connected to touring visas, both for inbound performers and crews and for UK acts travelling overseas
• The introduction of the Live Music Act 2012, supporting economic growth in the live music industry by 51% over the past five years
• Organising the UK live music industry’s response to Brexit, responding to developments in the secondary ticketing market and supporting initiatives to improve accessibility at live events, and securing industry agreed positions in all these areas
• Contributing data and analysis for UK Music’s headline reports on music tourism and the economic value of the music industry

UK Music CEO Michael Dugher says: “Greg is someone who commands huge respect in the live music industry. He is the ideal person to take on the mantle from Paul Latham and ensure the UK Live Music Group continues to develop a proactive agenda and deliver real results for the sector.”

He adds: “I want to thank Paul Latham for his immense contribution and achievements, as well as in bringing the group together in the first place.

“Live music contributes around £1 billion to the British economy and it is a fast-growing sector. It provides opportunities and a livelihood for so many people, not just artists and musicians but everyone else who works in the sector. Helped by Greg’s leadership, UK Music will continue to provide a strong, high profile voice for live music.”

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