Pirate Launch Over 70 Paid Gig Opportunities For Emerging Acts

13 March 2023

Embargoed until Thursday 16th March at noon (GMT).

Today (March 16th), Pirate also announced a stage at Boomtown 2023 which accounts for 25 paid gigs

Pirate has teamed up with 28 festivals and venues in the UK, US and Germany to offer over 70 paid gig opportunities
6 radio stations will also offer emerging artists airplay as part of the initiative
Female and gender nonconforming artists are strongly encouraged to apply, over 70% of applicants to the programme so far have been male
Partners for the scheme include Boomtown, Cross The Tracks, Festival People, Truck, Tramlines and Mint Festival
Entries for Pirate Residency opened on March 6th, and will close on March 27th

On March 6th, Pirate announced their latest round of artist opportunities. Pirate Residency 2023: Summer On Stage is designed to offer emerging artists paid gig slots and airplay to help combat a downwards trend in the number of new acts coming onto UK festival lineups.

“Many live events operate with tight margins, but emerging acts performing at profit-driving events without a fee isn’t sustainable for the artists. We’re working with all of our partners to make sure every gig we offer is paid.”

Rebecca Mason-Evans, Residency Lead, Pirate

Partnering with El Dorado (Herefordshire), Cross The Tracks (London), The Empire State Music And Arts Festival (New York), AVA Club (Berlin) and a host of other festivals and gig venues across the UK, US and Germany, Pirate has created over 70 performance opportunities at 28 festivals and venues.

“We are lucky enough to work in music and it's our responsibility to help bring passionate and talented people through.”

Representative, Cross The Tracks

Today (March 16th), Pirate also announced their own stage at Boomtown 2023, to be curated from artists in their community, which accounts for 25 paid gigs.

6 US and UK radio stations will also open for guest mixes and track submissions through Pirate Residency: Reprezent, Voices, Transatlantic Lines, KPFK, SNS Radio (from Sneakersnstuff) and Croydon FM.

Pirate has received over 1,000 submissions to their Summer Residency programme so far, 70% of which are from male identifying artists. Pirate strongly encourages female and gender nonconforming artists to apply before the deadline on March 27th.

As well as a gig or radio slot, Pirate residents will receive £250 studio credit to use in any of Pirate’s 24-hour rehearsal, recording, DJ, dance and podcast studios, a share of £5,000 Paradise Worldwide vouchers for career development, and mentorship from some of the industry’s brightest minds.

So far, more DJs have applied for the scheme than any other discipline (over 30% of applicants). Only 6% of applications come from MCs, 24% come from bands. Artists of all disciplines and genres are eligible, applicants must simply select the relevant opportunities when applying through the dedicated page.

FULL LIST OF PIRATE RESIDENCY 2023 PARTNERS: 432, AVA CLUB, BASS N BABES, BETTER DAYS, BOOMTOWN, CATCH ONE, CROSS THE TRACKS, CROYDON FM, DEATHPROOF INC., EL DORADO, EMPIRE STATE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, FARRAGO, FESTIVAL PEOPLE, FIERCE FEMME SOUNDS, GOTOBEAT LONDON, GRAPENUT BRUNCH CLUB, HOTEL CAFE, ILL BEHAVIOUR, JIMMY’S LIVERPOOL, KPFK, MINT FESTIVAL, MINT WAREHOUSE, MOLTO MUSIC GROUP, ONE NIGHT NYC, PARADISE WORLDWIDE, QSTV, REPREZENT RADIO, RANSOM NOTE, SHESAIDSO, SNEAKERSNSTUFF, SOUNDS FROM THE OTHER CITY, THE WRD FROM THE IVOR’S ACADEMY, THIS FEELING, TRUCK, TRAMLINES, VOICES RADIO