One in six UK festivals came to an end during and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, new data from the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) suggests. A study carried out by AIF in the first half of 2023 shows there were 600 music festivals held in the UK in 2019, but only 482 …
UK festivals will barely break even in 2023 – AIF report
UK festivals face tight margins in 2023 due to soaring costs, according to data collected in the Association of Independent Festivals’ (AIF) first-ever Festival Forecast report. Based on a survey of AIF members, carried out in April 2023, the report shows that AIF festivals are on course to make a collective gross revenue of £195m …
The NEC joins festival associations to explore further opportunities
The NEC has joined two festival organisations to continue its exploration of opportunities within the events industry. Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) has joined the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) to aid its events diversification strategy. The NEC Campus boasts 387 acres of hard-standing ground and 59 acres …
People on the move: Association of Independent Festivals and more…
We round up the latest movements from the ticketing sector and associated industries… The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has announced at its annual general meeting that John Rostron (pictured left) has become its new chief executive. Rostron is co-founder of Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival and the Association of Independent Promoters (AIP). He will begin his tenure …
People on the move: AIF, Legends and more…
We round up the latest movements from the ticketing ecosystem… The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has announced that Paul Reed (pictured) will step down as chief executive in November. Reed has spent nine years at the trade body after joining in 2013 and has acted as general manager and CEO. During his time at …
People on the move: Tix Ticketing, AIF and more…
We round up the latest movements from the ticketing sector and associated industries… Tix Ticketing has announced Patrick Morsman (pictured left) has joined the ticketing software provider as sales and operations manager for UK & Ireland. Morsman has joined Tix Ticketing from Yesplan, a venue and event management provider, where he managed sales for the UK …
UK festivals commit to tackling sexual violence at events
Over 100 festivals in the UK have committed to tackling sexual violence at events, including Reading and Leeds, Boomtown Fair, Boardmasters and Parklife. Some 105 festivals have committed to The Association of Independent Festivals’ (AIF) Safer Spaces At Festivals campaign, with the aim of tackling sexual violence. The initiative had originally launched in May 2017 …
Industry figures react to UK Chancellor’s spring budget
UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has said he will keep the pressure on the UK Government over the proposed VAT rise on tickets in April, after Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) failed to abandon the plans during his spring budget. The Government is set to raise the VAT on ticketing from 12.5% to 20% from …
AIF calls for Government-backed support to deal with mounting costs and shortages
Association of Independent Festivals chief executive Paul Reed (pictured) has warned of the “perfect storm” of ending VAT relief, Brexit, the supply chain crisis and worker shortages for UK festival organisers this summer. Reed has said that while the widespread return of large events this summer is a welcome sight, it will not be a …