Pirate Studios’ new initiative will offer emerging artists paid gig opportunities at major festivals

Pirate Studios has launched a new initiative which will generate over 70 paid gig opportunities for emerging artists in 2023.

Pirate Residency 2023: Summer On Stage has been launched, the organisation says, 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 line-ups”.

The company has partnered with 28 festivals and venues based in the UK, US and Germany to generate the opportunities, with festivals such as Boomtown, Cross The Tracks and Mint Festival among those involved. The collaboration with Boomtown, in particular, will involve a stage curated entirely by Pirate, which will account for 25 of the paid gigs.

In addition, radio stations based in the UK and the US – namely Reprezent, Voices, Transatlantic Lines, KPFK, SNS Radio and Croydon FM – will also offer airtime to artists as part of the Pirate Residency scheme by taking guest mixes and track submissions.

Applications to be involved in the scheme are open here, and having noted that 70% of applicants thus far have been male, the organisation is encouraging more women and non-binary people to apply.

Revisit DJ Mag’s 2020 feature on Pirate here.