Live DMA - European Network for Music Venues and Festivals

Live DMA is a European non-governmental network working to support and to promote the conditions of the live music sector. Live DMA is by nature an international collaboration network based on shared visions and values. Ever since its foundation, exchange of best practices and experiences have been the pivot of the network’s existence.

Through time, Live DMA has grown in terms of size and impact. Today, the network is composed of 17 members situated in 13 countries. The members are regional and national live music associations that represent more than 2500 music venues and festivals located all over Europe.

In 2017, the European Commission recognized Live DMA as European network and granted, via the Creative Europe program, funding to develop the network’s project Live Style Europe. Live Style Europe is a “building capacity program” with the objective to empower music venues, festivals, and regional and nationals live music associations and to provide them with skills and tools in order to adapt to the changes of the music sector.

Music venues and festivals are one of the main providers for talent development in Europe. From local band support to renowned stages, they are the social gathering places where people can easily meet and enjoy a large range of diverse artists. Venues and festivals are an important part of our neighborhoods, in both rural and urban areas. They are open to diversity, they have a strong impact on the local economies, they increase the attractiveness of the cities, and, they are strongly connected to the people. As Live DMA’s survey results show, Live DMA venues organized over 380 000 live acts and attracted more than 56 million visitors. About 82 000 volunteers participate every day in the venues’ activities and in the dynamism of the local lives.

By gathering independent players from the entire live music sector, Live DMA proposes a collective voice in order to work on European challenges and highlight the substantial cultural and social work of live music professionals.

As member of the European Music Council and the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts, Live DMA is also actively engaging with other European cultural networks in order to make changes in the European approach of culture with the aim to include culture and the arts in the long-term goals of the European project.

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EMC member since 2015