Liveurope’s €2.8m EU funding boost for new talent

Venue association Liveurope has been awarded €2.8 million funding from the EU to continue its mission to showcase emerging European talent.

The platform, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, was established via the European Union’s Creative Europe programme and allocates funding to members based on the number of emerging European acts they book.

According to the organisation, the model has led to a 63% increase in non-national European artists programmed on average compared to before they became a member.

“In times where artists increasingly rely on touring to make a living, production costs for gigs continue to explode, and multinational conglomerates dominate more and more the live music value chain, Liveurope’s mission, to support venues to take risks and invest in the next generation of European artists, gains a whole new meaning,” says Liveurope’s general coordinator Fernando Bittencourt Hersan.

“Liveurope has made a tremendous difference for the music scene in Europe”

It marks the fourth consecutive time that Liveurope, which represents a network of 24 venues across the continent, has had its EU funding renewed. And with the €2.8m grant now secured for 2025-2028, the platform is set to reach a milestone of 8,000 supported concerts by the end of the grant period.

“Liveurope has made a tremendous difference for the music scene in Europe,” adds Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, director general of the European Commission’s directorate-general for education, youth, sport and culture. “It has made a huge contribution to thousands of emerging artists it has supported, fostering the power of music to inspire and unite.”

The platform has supported more than 5,000 concerts with new European talent over the past decade, including now established names such as Hania Rani (PL), Altın Gün (NL) and MØ (DK). Members include Docks Lausanne, Ancienne Belgique in Brussels and Luxembourg’s Rockhal.

The new funding cycle will also focus on sustainability and inclusivity, with Liveurope planning to collect data to promote sustainable touring practices and encourage the use of greener transport options. A Keychange pledge signatory, Liveurope is also aiming for 50% of the acts supported to reflect gender balance by 2028.

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