Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), the UK artist trade body and disability-led charity, Attitude Is Everything (AiE), are delighted to announce the launch of a new strategic partnership. FAC and AiE have taken steps to develop a sustainable and collaborative working partnership to help ensure that the rights and interests of Deaf and disabled artists are fairly represented within the music industry.

AiE's Next Stage artist development initiative aims to make the industry more accessible for artists with access requirements. Under the partnership FAC and AiE will announce dual Next Stage ambassadors, integrated with the FAC's already existing ambassador programme. To launch the partnership we welcome Ali Hersz of Idealistics and Rob Maddison who has produced and performed on three albums for Revenge of Calculon, Spaceships are cool and Yunioshi.

"I think it's integral that artists from all backgrounds are represented and given equal opportunity within the industry, I'm delighted to be representing an important project like Next Stage and an organisation like the FAC, who are working for artists rights and are powered by artists. I can't wait to see what the future brings." (Ali Hersz)

"As both a producer and performer, I have discovered that there are many significant barriers to furthering a career in the music industry for those of us artists who are disabled and this contributes to the lack of representation within the industry at present. I am very proud to have the opportunity to be helping highlight the Next Stage project and the FAC, they will both be vitally important in the journey to resolving these issues". (Rob Maddison)

The FAC also welcomes AiE's Rich Legate as the newest member of its BEAT Board, where he will help to inform the development and direction of FAC policy and initiatives. Furthermore, AiE will curate a series of pieces for FAC Insights, the trade body's recently launched forum for long-form articles, interviews and experiences about the music industry and the society that shapes it.

Rich Legate, Attitude Is Everything Artist Development Manager, said:

"The culture of music and the world of the music industry will only be enriched by including artists from all sorts of backgrounds and with differing experiences of living. Artists and musicians who are disabled people are currently not able to move through this industry without facing numerous barriers that either restrict their success, or convince them to give up. Working collaboratively with the FAC we will be able to amplify the voices of disabled artists, supporting their creativity and making sure they have a seat at the table to shape the future of this industry alongside their peers."

David Martin, FAC General Manager, said:

"As the UK artist trade body, it is crucial that the FAC works for the whole artist community. Our mission is to represent the rights and interests of all artists and this partnership helps us to provide a voice for Deaf and disabled artists in an industry which has too often left them out of the conversation. Working with Attitude Is Everything's Next Stage initiative will help us to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge into the FAC and support our work towards a truly inclusive music industry. I'm also delighted to be welcoming Ali and Rob into the FAC family as our newest ambassadors."

About the FAC: The FAC is the UK trade body representing the specific rights and interests of music artists. We are a not-for-profit organisation, serving a diverse, global membership of creators at all stages of their careers. The FAC is formed by artists, for artists, and we place this ethos at the centre of all we do. We are an inclusive community that advocates, educates, collaborates and researches on behalf of artists, coming together to provide a strong, collective voice within the industry and to governments domestically and abroad.

About Attitude Is Everything & Next Stage: Attitude is Everything is an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation that improves Deaf and disabled people's access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to implement a Charter of Best Practice across the UK. More than 130 venues and festivals have committed to improve their access facilities and policies via this framework. In 2016, ticket sales to disabled customers at Charter venues and festivals increased by over 26% - contributing some £8m to the music economy. In July 2017, the UK Live Music Group, the body that sits within UK Music to represent views of Britain's live music industry, officially recognised the Charter as an industry standard.

Next Stage is an innovative artist development initiative powered by Attitude is Everything, making the music industry more accessible for artists with access requirements. Funded by Arts Council England, Next Stage works across the industry to remove barriers and champion talented artists with impairments and health conditions. The initiative includes a network of 80 artists, a steering group of major UK artist funders and further activity with promoters, venues, festivals, talent developments platforms, industry events and conferences.

Website: www.thefac.org / www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk
Facebook: @featuredartistscoalition / @attitudeiseverything
Instagram: @featuredartistscoalition / attitudeiseverythingHQ
Twitter: @featuredartists / @attitudetweets