Northern Line for promoters and producers

Northern Line supports artists across the north of England to deliver high quality live shows on profile-raising stages. Simultaneously, it supports northern promoters to book exciting new artists with lowered financial risk and promotional support. 

This live touring programme is artist centred and works closely with musicians to offer: 

• Subsidised touring – to the benefit of the promoter and the artist 

• 1:1 support – we support artists to work on their goals and think strategically about their live shows 

• Showcase – an opportunity for promoters to connect with each other and to see Northern Line artists performing live, at their midpoint on the scheme 

• Business and industry upskilling – helping artists build useful systems for the business side of their work

• Industry networking – Jazz North organises networking events for artists and promoters to connect 

• Marketing and PR support –  championing northern jazz on our channels and supporting artists to develop easy tools to manage their own press and marketing 

• EPK and assets support  – ensuring artists’ promotional assets are up to scratch for promotion 

How does it work? 

Northern promoters who are interested in presenting Northern Line artists can submit a booking request, when this service is available in May 2022, for the artist touring period running September 2022-September 2023. A Northern Line booking means the artist fee is financially subsidised by Jazz North. This ensures artists are paid fairly whilst enabling promoters to deliver ambitious shows with new artists. 

Process 

• Promoter submits booking request for Northern Line artist 
• The artist confirms or rejects the booking offer 
• If the artist accepts, Jazz North contacts the promoter regarding the financial agreement 
• Promoter accepts or rejects the subsidy offer 
• If the offer is accepted, Jazz North will send a booking agreement to the promoter 
• The gig is confirmed 

Conditions for Booking Live Shows

• Gigs must take place within the boundaries of the North 
• The offer of gig subsidy level (generally at 30%, 50% or 70%, dependent on a number of factors, unique to each artist) is decided at the discretion of Jazz North in accordance with our priorities for the scheme
• Travel and accommodation (if required) should be arranged and paid for by the promoter and agreed with the artist at the point of booking. These costs are not covered by our subsidy
• The minimum lead time for booking a Northern Line show is 6 weeks from the date of performance
• The artist retains the right to accept or turn down any offer of a booking 

Practically, this means that Jazz North will subsidise a certain % of each Northern Line artist fee. We will agree a level of subsidy appropriate to the booking on a case-by-case basis. 

We will take into account the artists’ track record, the promoter’s economic position, venue capacity and the extent to which the booking advances the career ambitions of the artist.

Promoters are also expected to pay travel and other appropriate expenses. 

Timeline 

Early May Northern Line artists announced

Mid May Artist booking system opens 

September 22 Touring period begins 

November 22 Artist showcase and networking at Hull Jazz Festival 

September 23 Touring period ends 

So what about the interim? 

We understand that whilst we are launching the new cohort, there will be festivals and events happening between the end of March 2022 (when our current artists finish on the scheme) and the beginning of the new touring period in September 2022. 

To cover this gap, we will be launching an open bursary to which promoters can apply in order to ease their financial risk of staging gigs in the current climate. We will fund a certain number of promoters amounts up to £500 to present work that promotes diversity in their live programme. 

Details and dates will be announced in due course.

If you’d like to be informed of when this application opens, please register your interest using this form.