For 21 years, iluvlive has been a platform for live music and artist development, particularly within Black music genres. Many artists – including Little Simz, Kano, Mahalia and Ed Sheeran – were supported by iluvlive years before they were signed.
Founded in 2004, iluvlive began as a London-based showcase hosted by producer/DJs Ras Kwame and Twin B. It offered something that was missing at the time: a place for Black artists to perform with live bands. Today, it delivers shows across the UK and supports artists through its development programme.
“iluvlive was created as a space for Black music to thrive in a live environment,” says Managing Director Lauren Louise Powell. “21 years later, we’re still doing that same work, but we are evolving in all different ways. Our mission is to continue to help Black music, Black artists, and global majority artists as well.”
iluvlive selects artists for its development programme based on a mix of talent, commitment and timing. “One of the key things that we always do is look at their work ethic and their commitment to their artistry,” explains Lauren. “It’s not always about who’s necessarily best. It’s about where we can slot into it and where we think we can help those people at that given time.”
Recent success stories include DeeRiginal, who has gained an agent and performed several shows after working with iluvlive – most recently at The Great Escape festival. One of the organisation’s early success stories was helping to launch the career of Izzy Bizu, who went on to support Coldplay on tour.
Through PPL Giving, our £1 million annual programme supporting the music community, we have supported iluvlive’s series of genre-based events, including Bloom – a regular live show celebrating the best in emerging R&B.
“It’s been like a blessing to have that support,” says Lauren. “PPL is a key part of people’s livelihood in the industry. The artists that we work with need knowledge and knowing that PPL is there for them and what that can do for them. It’s helped us launch Bloom, and support numerous R&B artists from an emerging level. It’s helped us keep the legacy of iluvlive alive in a different way.”
Lauren explains that Bloom was created after seeing a demand for genre-specific events that offer the right setting and audience for different artists. “It’s been a great success, and we’ve discovered some amazing talent through our open mic segment. We’re now in the process of celebrating other Black music genres similarly.”
Events like Bloom are part of a broader ecosystem at iluvlive, providing artists with performance opportunities and industry connections. “They are designed to create intentional spaces where artists can not only perform but also thrive,” says Lauren. “We aim for all acts to leave with enhanced career opportunities.”
Looking ahead, iluvlive is planning to expand its offering with new initiatives like The Break, a new long-term advice and mentoring project.
“In the coming 12 months, as we celebrate 21 years of iluvlive, I envision iluvlive evolving and building on our legacy by broadening our programmes and partnerships,” Lauren says. “We aim to equip aspiring artists and executives with the tools, networks and insights necessary to navigate the music industry.”
PPL is proud to support this work as part of our ongoing commitment to a sustainable music industry.
Find out more about about iluvlive’s upcoming events and artist development programme here.
