DIVER.G.ENT

As Homestead, a new festival in Somerset, announces it can’t go ahead due to tough economic factors, AIF has again called for more government support for festivals, switching its main demand from a VAT cut on tickets to a new tax relief scheme for smaller events

IMPALA has published a new report on the streaming business, criticising recent trends that are creating a two-tier market that favours the majors. It calls on industry and policymakers to work together to ensure a steaming ecosystem that “supports innovation, inclusivity and sustainable growth”

Pulling from post-punk, shoegaze and 90s indie, South London’s Ain’t map out a sound that’s tense, slightly off-centre, but always measured. On new single ‘Jude’, guitars blur into texture, vocals drift in and out of focus, and atmosphere quietly takes the lead over melody

While the 2025 edition of Brockwell Live is over, the legal battle over the use of London’s Brockwell Park as a festival venue continues. Local campaigners have launched a second judicial review which they say should stop the “misuse of planning powers” that allowed the 2025 festivals to proceed

Two more acquisitions in the music rights business. Sony has bought one of the Hipgnosis catalogues that wasn’t included when the rest of Hipgnosis revamped as the Recognition Music Group in March. Meanwhile Cooking Vinyl has been bought, but will stay indie, being acquired by Exceleration Music