Reside Nation festivals have change into extra accessible for disabled followers following a authorized row regarding Wi-fi and Obtain.
The Equality and Human Rights Fee (EHRC) took motion in opposition to the ticketing big on behalf of itself and its competition operator, Pageant Republic. The lawsuit got here after stories of accessibility points reemerged, regarding Wi-fi 2022 and Obtain 2023.
Disabled music followers reported points with with the ability to see the stage, highlighted cases of employees questioning their disabilities, and famous an absence of accessible bogs on web site. One fan who went to Wi-fi in 2022 described the occasion as “disheartening and a waste of money and time” as a result of points dealing with disabled festival-goers (by way of BBC Information).
In response, the EHRC entered a legally-binding Part 23 settlement with Reside Nation to make sure that it made accessibility enhancements. These included enhanced Accessibility Guides, new tips that needed to be adopted by employees, an audit of all competition web sites, and obligatory organisation-wide incapacity consciousness and inclusion coaching.
Extra sensory calm areas have been launched, in addition to a thriller shopper system the place disabled contributors attend chosen festivals and assess the accessible services obtainable. After the occasions, surveys have been handed out to disabled followers to evaluation the requirements.
“Festivals ought to be a spot the place everybody can have enjoyable and make lasting reminiscences,” mentioned Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Fee, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. “That’s why we took motion in opposition to Reside Nation, utilizing our regulatory powers to make sure it complied with its authorized duties to create inclusive and accessible occasions that everybody might be part of.”
She additionally mentioned that the previous two years have seen Reside Nation meet the phrases of the authorized settlement, and the “tangible enhancements will create an setting each fan can take pleasure in and provides disabled folks a possibility to have their voices heard, shaping the accessibility of future occasions”.
Stephenson added that different competition operators are being pushed to “look at what they’re doing to make cheap changes for disabled followers and guarantee they’re creating inclusive occasions for everybody” as nicely. Try the complete report right here.
Reside Nation additionally gave additional perception into adjustments it carried out, sharing with NME that it has “undertaken a multi-year programme, formed by suggestions from accessibility clients, to ship enhancements throughout our festivals”.
The adjustments embrace all of these aforementioned, together with sensory calm areas and improved tips, and for Obtain Pageant particularly, extra adjustments have been made as that competition attracts extra folks with accessibility necessities than another.
Modifications at Obtain embrace putting in “one of many largest viewing platforms within the nation”, “an accessible campsite subsequent to the world, with full services and specialist employees”, “a second accessible campsite being launched for 2026”, “a 70-strong on-site accessibility group” and extra.
“We would like everybody to really feel welcome, assured and in a position to take pleasure in reside music,” mentioned a Reside Nation spokesperson. “Accessibility is constructed into how we plan and ship our festivals, with a devoted group targeted on supporting folks all through their expertise. We’re happy with what we’ve got achieved, nevertheless it doesn’t cease right here. We’ll preserve listening, studying and enhancing so that each one followers really feel included at our occasions.”
The legally binding settlement Reside Nation UK has signed with the Equality and Human Rights Fee (EHRC) additionally impacts the Crystal Palace Live performance Sequence, Finsbury Park Live performance Sequence, Latitude Pageant, Wilderness, Gunnersbury Park Live performance Sequence, Studying Pageant and Leeds Pageant.
“Festivals need to be loved by all, together with disabled folks. Nobody ought to be subjected to poor remedy when attending or being postpone from attending altogether as a result of unacceptable entry points,” mentioned Baroness Falkner, chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Fee (as per MusicWeek).
“The reported experiences at each Wi-fi and Obtain competition have been unacceptable and may by no means have occurred. We welcome Reside Nation’s dedication to enhance their providers and the signing of this settlement will guarantee disabled persons are not left behind at future occasions.”
In addition to dealing with strain to make its festivals extra accessible for disabled followers, Reside Nation can be feeling a push to assist help grassroots venues and rising expertise within the UK.
Artistic Industries Minister Ian Murray wrote to NME concerning the want for the business and Reside Nation to “step as much as assist the following era of expertise”, which might be completed by paying into the world and stadium ticket levy, earlier than the federal government is pressured to intervene and make it obligatory by legislation.
The strain comes as 30 grassroots venues have been misplaced ceaselessly between July 2024 and July 2025, and final yr alone noticed greater than half of these remaining making no revenue and over 6,000 jobs misplaced. The final decade has additionally seen the UK undergo from the “full collapse of touring“, with 175 cities and cities declared “gig deserts”, and 35million folks with out reside music of their space or group.
To this point, London Royal Albert Corridor has change into the primary UK enviornment to voluntary begin paying into the scheme final yr, and artists together with Sam Fender, Harry Kinds, Radiohead, Lily Allen, Enter Shikari, Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran, Take That, The Remedy, Kojey Radical, Foo Fighters and extra have proven their help by doing voluntary “levy” ticket contributions.
Regardless of this progress, Artistic Industries Minister Ian Murray informed NME about why there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go earlier than we see any concrete change.
“At current, solely 30 per cent of tickets for 2026 exhibits are at the moment supporting the voluntary ticket contribution. Extra main venues, tour operators, brokers and artists have to step up,” he mentioned. “Specifically, whereas a number of main promoters have thrown their unequivocal help behind the Belief, a small quantity haven’t.”
“Reside Nation, given its vastly influential place out there, may make a significant constructive influence if it adjustments its stance,” he added. “I urge them to rethink and step as much as assist the following era of expertise.”
Reside Nation, who performed a component in Harry Kinds contributing £1 for every ticket to his upcoming Wembley Stadium residency to the LIVE Belief, responded to the criticism by telling NME that they “help artists’ decisions on charitable donations, and has labored with quite a few artists who’ve contributed to the voluntary levy – from Coldplay to Biffy Clyro – and can proceed to take action.”
In a follow-up assertion, a Reside Nation spokesperson added: “Reside Nation helps the goals of the LIVE Belief and the voluntary ticket contribution, and we welcome the growing variety of artists selecting to choose in.
“Alongside this, we help grassroots music at scale by selling hundreds of exhibits every year in small venues and serving to artists construct their careers from golf equipment onwards.”
