UK trade body the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has launched its first kitemark, a fair trade symbol to be awarded to ‘artist friendly’ organisations.

The first iteration  – ‘FAC Kitemark: Independent Promoters’ – focuses on the independent, live music promoter relationship with grassroots artists, and is being delivered in partnership with the Association of Independent Promoters (AIP).

A set of criteria on how to work with artists was developed by the FAC’s BEAT Board (Breakthrough & Emerging Artists Together). 

The BEAT Board is the FAC’s advisory board of grassroots artist entrepreneurs. It feeds into the FAC Board of Directors, to ensure that the FAC represents the needs of breakthrough, early stage and independent artists. 

The promoter kitemark includes best practice on communication, remuneration, accessibility and hospitality. It also includes guidance on creating an inclusive environment with a published zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and harassment.

The involvement of the AIP means that in future, all registering AIP members will also subscribe to the FAC kitemark criteria.

“The artist-promoter relationship is central to the way that the music industry ecosystem works,” said AIP CEO John Rostron. “It is this relationship that is at the heart of music’s breeding ground, where artists learn their craft and build their fanbases. AIP has been proud to partner with the FAC on the development of this Kitemark standard. The more mutual understanding there is between independent artists and promoters, the better it is for the whole of our industry.”

To mark the launch of the new kitemark, the FAC and AIP will host a panel discussion that aims to examine the relationship between artists and independent promoters.  

The Stronger Than Yesterday: The artist-promoter relationship online event will take place at 17:00 BST/18:00 CEST/13:00 EDT on 3 June via Zoom.

“Touring as an independent artist can be lonely and difficult to navigate; the new kitemark will not only help to establish a baseline of expected good practice between artists and promoters, but also strengthen the UK’s live music grassroots community, encouraging us to hold one another accountable and improving everyone’s experience of doing the work they love,” said Lisbee Stainton, BEAT Board member, singer, songwriter and Head of Songwriting at BIMM.