For the second consecutive year, Liveurope presented its programming results during the Reeperbahn festival in Hamburg. More new artists, more diversity, more venues: the platform keeps on growing.

Liveurope is the first initiative of its kind. Created in 2014 with support from the EU, it brings together some of the best concert venues in Europe, with one clear objective: to increase the circulation of new talent.

“The principle behind Liveurope is very simple” says Dirk de Clippeleir, Managing Director of Ancienne Belgique (Brussels), the leading venue of the network. “Our member venues are encouraged to book emerging European bands through an incentive funding mechanism. The more acts they programme, the more funding they receive.”

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Two years after the launch of the initiative, the results are undeniably positive. 837 bands from 36 different countries (from the EU and its neighborhood) have been showcased to local audiences in the 13 venues currently composing the platform.

“If you look at the programming of our member venues before we implemented this bonus system, it is clear that Liveurope makes a difference”, says Fabien Miclet, Coordinator of Liveurope. “On average, our members used to book about 20 young European artists per year. This figure is now closer to 35 shows. We are looking at a 50% increase on up-and-coming European talent in just two years of using the Liveurope system”.

The results of the first year, presented in October 2015, were already more than encouraging, with 380 young European artists booked within the platform (35% more than pre-liveurope). With 457 shows, the second year represents a progress of another 20%, without increasing the funding envelope.

“These figures teach us two things” adds De Clippeleir. “First, by rewarding live music venues proportionally to their efforts, they can really make a difference when it comes to showing new bands to their audience. Furthermore, not only our members book more European artists, but they really get out of their comfort zone. They don’t just pick acts from countries close to their own borders”.

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The diversity of the programming is indeed another parameter displaying clear signs of progress after two years of activity. On average, 12 different European nationalities are represented in the annual programmes of the Liveurope members.

Miclet continues: “The greatest added value of the system is it simplicity. By awarding small incentive bonuses to our members, we realise that everyone wins: European audiences have more choice, venues have a safety net to take risks, and artists are given more touring opportunities. It’s a virtuous circle. It also shows how positive and efficient the EU can be, when they chose the right target”.

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Another noteworthy sign of Liveurope’s growing appetite is the upcoming addition of a new member venue. “We are currently evaluating the profiles of several venues that could join the platform. If all goes well, we will have a fourteenth member before the end of 2016”.

The Liveurope programme is currently running until September 2017, and the European Commission will soon decide on the opportunity of renewing the funding and expanding the platform in the future.