The Future of Grassroots Live Music Report
Following the launch of the CoSTAR National Lab’s report The Future of Grassroots Live Music in July, we speak to Dr Claude Heath, Lecturer in Worldbuilding, and Creative Head Professor Will Saunders MBE about whether technology can support grass roots music and why it matters now.
Posted: 14 September 2026
The Future of Grassroots Live Music, published in July 2026, gives practical form to the Government’s recent policy statement in July 2026, ‘Turn it up: Our plan for music’, announcing the increase in the Music Growth Package.
It shows how grassroots venues, artists and creative technologists working in partnership with funders of R&D can turn national music policy into testable, place-based innovation.
To find out more about the background to the research read this new blog from report lead and Lecturer in Worldbuilding, Dr Claude Heath: The Future of Grassroots Live Music - why does it matter now?
And for anyone who missed it, Creative Head Professor Will Saunders MBE reflects on the impact of the 4 companies who piloted their technology with artists at packed out gigs around the country: 66 Voices, 4 Pilots, 1 Question - can technology innovation support grassroots venues?
Watch our short film documenting the journey of four CoSTAR Futures Grass Roots Music Venue companies who were granted access to CoSTAR facilities and funding to pilot their technology at live gigs in venues around the country earlier this year.