Livemusic

Livemusic was established in the United Kingdom in 2007 by Mick Newton and Ben Newton. Mick Newton brought experience from artist management: before creating the platform, he had worked with Tom Watkins in the management of Bros, the 1980s pop group, and subsequently managed Steve Winwood. Newton's work with Winwood continued until 2008. Among the projects associated with that period was the arrangement of three sold-out Madison Square Garden performances involving Winwood and Eric Clapton. The new company was headquartered in the Silicon Roundabout area of Shoreditch in East London. Its core concept was to organize the fragmented information surrounding live performances into a consumer-facing online service. Livemusic listed forthcoming concerts across the UK, enabled users to compare prices from ticket agents, and supported ticket purchases. The platform also published artist and band profiles, reportedly reaching more than 40,000 pages, and maintained interviews and video content for popular performers. Beyond its directory and ticketing functions, Livemusic provided tools intended to encourage repeat engagement. Users could follow artists and receive email alerts about new gigs, interact with other people attending performances, and submit reviews. This combination made the service both an information resource and a social layer around concert attendance. The company broadened its activities in 2011. In October of that year it launched Live&Loud, an online service for unsigned bands. The service matched artists with available performance slots at small and medium-sized venues, helped promote the resulting shows, and supported ticket sales. It also used social-media growth and fan activity to identify acts that might merit further exposure. Bands that demonstrated strong audience development could be offered support opportunities at future Livemusic Student Union events. Approximately 2,000 UK bands were reported to have joined Live&Loud by October 2011. Livemusic also developed the Student Union Tour, staging shows at university student unions around the United Kingdom. The first reported event occurred at King's College London in September 2011, with Miles Kane as the headline act. This event activity complemented the platform's online role by connecting its discovery and artist-development functions with physical performances. In 2011, Livemusic announced three board appointments: Nick Gatfield, then chairman and chief executive of Sony Music UK and Ireland; Giles Thorley, a former chief executive of Punch Taverns plc; and Peter Bond, chairman of Bond Aviation Group and a founder investor in Soho House Group. The appointments brought senior experience from recorded music, hospitality, and investment into the company's governance. The available material does not provide reliable information about Livemusic's later corporate development, financial results, ownership, current website, or operating status. The documented history therefore ends with the company's expansion and governance activity around 2011, and its present status remains unknown.

• 2011

  Live&Loud launches

  [1]Livemusicen.wikipedia.org

  Livemusic introduces a service for unsigned bands that combines self-promotion, venue-slot matching, gig booking, and ticket promotion.

• 2011

  First Student Union Tour event

  [1]Livemusicen.wikipedia.org

  The first reported Livemusic Student Union event takes place at King's College London, with Miles Kane headlining.

• 2011

  Board appointments announced

  [1]Livemusicen.wikipedia.org

  Nick Gatfield, Giles Thorley, and Peter Bond join Livemusic's board.

• 2007

  Livemusic is founded

  [1]Livemusicen.wikipedia.org

  Mick Newton and Ben Newton establish Livemusic as a UK live-music listings and ticket-comparison platform.

A UK digital live-music discovery and ticketing platform combining concert listings, ticket comparison, editorial artist content, fan tools, and development opportunities for unsigned bands.

• Concert discovery and ticketing · 2007

  Livemusic concert listings

  The platform's main service was a searchable catalogue of forthcoming UK gigs. It reportedly covered more than 25,000 events and allowed users to compare ticket prices from different agents, including Ticketmaster and Seatwave. Artist pages, email alerts, reviews, interviews, and videos supplemented the event directory.

• Unsigned-artist promotion and booking · 2011

  Live&Loud

  Live&Loud was introduced as an online self-promotion tool and gig-booking service for unsigned bands. It matched emerging acts with open slots at small and medium-sized UK venues, helped promote and sell tickets, and used social and fan engagement as indicators for possible support opportunities at larger Livemusic events.

• Live events · 2011

  Livemusic Student Union Tour

  The Student Union Tour consisted of performances staged at university student unions in the UK. Its first reported event was held at King's College London in September 2011 and featured Miles Kane as the headline performer.

• 2011Live&Loud

  United Kingdom

  Livemusic promoted Live&Loud as a development route for unsigned bands, combining venue matching, gig promotion, ticket sales, and fan-engagement measures.

  Outcome. The service was reported to have attracted 2,000 UK bands by October 2011. No later performance data is provided.

  Source
• 2011Livemusic Student Union Tour

  United Kingdom

  Livemusic staged live events at university student unions, linking its online ticketing and artist-discovery activities with physical concerts.

  Outcome. The first reported event took place at King's College London in September 2011 and was headlined by Miles Kane.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch of Live&LoudProduct launch

  Background

  Livemusic sought to extend beyond ticket discovery and serve unsigned artists and smaller venues.

  Action taken

  It launched a service that matched unsigned bands with venue slots, promoted their concerts, sold tickets, and identified acts for possible support opportunities.

  Aftermath

  The service reportedly had 2,000 UK bands registered by October 2011.

  Source

• 2011

  Expansion into student-union live eventsStrategy

  Background

  The company used live events to complement its online listings, ticket comparison, and artist-development services.

  Action taken

  Livemusic staged a Student Union Tour at UK universities, beginning with an event at King's College London.

  Aftermath

  The first event was headlined by Miles Kane. Further tour results are not documented in the available material.

  Source

• 2011

  Appointment of industry and investment figures to the boardStrategy

  Background

  Livemusic announced board appointments intended to add experience from recorded music, hospitality, and investment.

  Action taken

  Nick Gatfield, Giles Thorley, and Peter Bond were appointed to the board.

  Aftermath

  The source records the appointments but does not describe their subsequent effect on the company.

  Source

1. 1Livemusicen.wikipedia.org