Access All Areas Magazine

An independent fan-led review of live and electronic music has led to the creation of a Fans’ Charter, with recommendations including the establishment of a representative body, similar to that representing football supporters. The findings of the review, chaired by Lord Brennan of Canton and set up by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, include calls to establishment a government and industry-backed Music Fan Association that would give fans more representation in policy and decision making.

Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty OBE has said that Commonwealth Sport’s new blueprint for the Commonwealth Games will help more nations and cities host the event. Speaking on the Behind the Games podcast, Batty (pictured left) described how the shortened timeline for this summer’s event has meant reassessing the model of delivery that works for all parts of the Commonwealth. Set to take place from 23 July to 2 August, Glasgow 2026 will host 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories.

O2 has signed a 10-year naming rights sponsorship agreement with The Odyssey Trust that will see SSE Arena Belfast rebranded The O2 Belfast. The deal will see a new O2 Blueroom opened in the 11,200-capacity arena, while O2’s customers will be given exclusive access to ticket pre-sales for all shows at the venue, 48 hours before general release. It also extends to O2 becoming the principal partner and shirt sponsor of the venue’s home ice hockey team the Belfast Giants.

Plans for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are being positioned as a new model for delivering the event, with organisers highlighting a more flexible and inclusive approach to hosting. Speaking on the Behind the Games podcast, Phil Batty OBE, CEO of the Glasgow 2026 organising company, said the opportunity to reshape the event format has been central to planning this edition. He said, “The permission to reinvent and reimagine [the Games] has been a gift.

The Great Escape has released its full 2026 schedule with confirmed stage hosts and more than 40 new artists. The festival runs from 13–16 May in Brighton and will feature more than 450 artists across 35+ venues, alongside its industry conference programme. With The Kooks headlining, new additions include Nectar Woode, Mandy, Indiana and Working Men’s Club.

O2 has agreed a 10-year naming rights deal with The Odyssey Trust to rebrand Belfast’s Odyssey site as The O2 Belfast. The agreement covers the full complex, including the arena, and takes effect from 1 July 2026, as the operator looks to expand its UK venue portfolio and strengthen its presence in Northern Ireland. The 10-year agreement covers the full Odyssey complex. This includes an 11,200-capacity arena, as well as leisure and education facilities on the waterfront site.

Music Venue Trust (MVT) has launched a campaign calling for greater accuracy and transparency in how PRS for Music licensing fees are calculated for grassroots music venues. The initiative, Set The Record Straight: Fair Licensing Fees, focuses on billing methods, capacity calculations and liability between promoters and venues.

AEG Presents has announced that its LIDO Festival in London’s Victoria Park has been moved from June to August, with some shows cancelled. The promoter said the event, which debuted last year, must be delayed in order to “protect park ground conditions”. The Maribou State headlined show day has been rescheduled for 31 August but AEG said it had not been possible to reschedule the 12 June event headlined by CMAT and the 14 June event led by Bombay Bicycle Club.

With a consultancy ongoing around the Event Industry Forum’s (EIF) proposed introduction of a Primary Authority initiative linked to its Purple Guide, stakeholders took to the main stage at the Event Production Show to explain why they believe it will benefit the events industry. For event organisers operating across multiple local authority boundaries, inconsistency in approach can be a major challenge.

London Marathon Events has bought Motion Events GmbH, the organiser of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. LME, which has made a string of UK event business acquisitions in recent years, said its latest purchase represents a significant milestone in the organisation’s long-term international growth strategy. In late 2022, LME took over the Brighton Marathon following the collapse of its former operator, Grounded Events Company.