Sony Music UK has become the first major music industry player to commit to financially supporting the Music Venue Trust.
The charity, which was founded in 2014, works to protect, preserve and improve the grassroots venue sector and held its annual Venues Day networking event last week at Ministry Of Sound in London.
"Sony is committed to supporting and developing artists from grassroots to festival headliners," said Sony Music chairman and CEO Jason Iley (pictured). "We recognise the vital role that grassroots music venues play in that journey, providing an essential platform for artists to be able to take their first steps and develop their audiences. These venues are the heart of our music communities, and we support the work of Music Venue Trust to protect, secure and improve them."
The MVT hopes that Sony's "game-changing" commitment will encourage further financial support from other music business sources.
Venues Day 2017 took place on October 17. Attended by more than 500 delegates, it featured panels, presentations and meetings
“Post Venues Day MVT will be focusing on strengthening music industry relationships and working with our network of venues, the Music Venues Alliance, to fundraise to take forward priorities identified at the event. We hope to have news of Fightback gigs very soon,” stated strategic director and Venues Day producer Beverley Whitrick.
