The Featured Artist Coalition has announced the first 26 artists to receive support from its £125,000 UK Artist Touring fund. The initiative, known as UKAT, will back 211 shows at grassroots and mid-sized UK venues before October 31. Funds were raised through voluntary ticket levies from major acts including Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran.
The Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), in partnership with the Music Managers Forum and Musicians’ Union, launched the UKAT fund to address the cost-of-touring crisis for artists. A 2024 parliamentary report highlighted that many musicians work full-time yet earn below minimum wage. The £125,000 pot comes from LIVE Trust donations via voluntary ticket contributions at stadium and arena shows by artists such as Sam Fender, Harry Styles, Radiohead, Lily Allen, Enter Shikari, Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran, Take That, The Cure, Kojey Radical and Foo Fighters. This marks the first phase, with top-up grants of up to £7,000 per artist aimed at reducing financial risks, building audiences and ensuring fair pay across the supply chain. More than 250 artists applied, with selections made by a panel of industry experts. Beneficiaries include Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Demob Happy, Ego Ella May, Puma Blue, Donae’O, Duke Special, Gwilym Gold, Jim Ghedi and Hollie Cook. Others are Belle Chen, Bonfire Radicals, Brown Horse, Chris Brain, Deary, Elephant Sessions, Eleni Drake, Emily Portman & Friends, Imogen and the Knife, Lake Malice, MEMORIALS, NOAHFINNCE, Oslo Twins, Tom Waters Band ft Geoff Achison, TRIP, V.I.C and Wax Head. David Martin, CEO of the FAC, stated: “Having opened Phase One of UKAT about six weeks ago, the response has been overwhelming. We’ve been inundated with applications, and I’m incredibly proud we’ve been able to move so quickly and distribute this money to where it’s most needed.” He added that the fund benefits the entire live music ecosystem and aims to become a permanent program. The announcement comes amid challenges in the UK music scene, with 30 grassroots venues lost between July 2024 and July 2025, over half of remaining ones unprofitable and 6,000 jobs gone last year. The government awaits voluntary ticket levy adoption by June 30, 2026, before considering legislation.