LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED

Registered charity 273596 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as L M N, LMN

Live Music Now is a UK-wide music outreach charity, established in 1977 by Yehudi Menuhin with two strategic aims; To bring live music of the highest quality to those for whom access to its benefits is normally restricted; To support the professional development of musicians at the outset of their careers, ensuring the highest quality of delivery through a rigorous selection and training process.

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Latest income
£1.4m
Latest spending
£1.4m
Registered
1977
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net decrease in funds of £36,649 for the year ended 31 March 2025. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £3,657, which is significantly below the stated policy target of approximately £450,000 (equivalent to six months of running costs). The trustees identified the lack of unrestricted reserves as a major risk and noted that the organisation is supported by a letter of underwrite from the Chair.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £70,001 - £80,000 — above the median for charities its size (£70k)
“In the band £70,001 to £80,000 – 1 (2024: £60,001 to £70,000 - 1).” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“In the band £70,001 to £80,000 – 1 (2024: £60,001 to £70,000 - 1).” — page 40
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: six months of unrestricted expenditure (held: £4k)
“The trustees would ideally like to build general unrestricted reserves to equate to 6 months running costs at current levels, in monetary figures this would amount to about £450,000.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Live Music Now Scotland
“During the year a payment of £nil (2024: £555) was received from Live Music Now Scotland, a charity with a number of common trustees. During the year Live Music Now also received donations on behalf of Live Music Now Scotland, totaling £nil (2024 £450), these were paid direct to Live Music Now Scotland in full.” — page 43
“During the year total donations of £1,660 (2024: £5,100) were received directly from the trustees.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustees
“During the year a payment of £nil (2024: £555) was received from Live Music Now Scotland, a charity with a number of common trustees. During the year Live Music Now also received donations on behalf of Live Music Now Scotland, totaling £nil (2024 £450), these were paid direct to Live Music Now Scotland in full.” — page 43
“During the year total donations of £1,660 (2024: £5,100) were received directly from the trustees.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Vernon Ellis Foundation
“During the year a payment of £nil (2024: £555) was received from Live Music Now Scotland, a charity with a number of common trustees. During the year Live Music Now also received donations on behalf of Live Music Now Scotland, totaling £nil (2024 £450), these were paid direct to Live Music Now Scotland in full.” — page 43
“During the year total donations of £1,660 (2024: £5,100) were received directly from the trustees.” — page 43
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Simpson Wreford LLP. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Year-over-year changes

Comparing this charity’s FY2024 and FY2025 accounts as analysed by this site.

Corporate structure

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Live Music Now (matched by registered charity number).

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

Official officers record.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£1.4m
Total spending
£1.4m
Cost of raising funds
£117k
Reserves (reported)
£4k
Employees
17

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 8.6% of total income — above the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£1.4m£1.4m
31/03/2024£1.5m£1.6m
31/03/2023£1.3m£1.6m
31/03/2022£1.4m£1.2m
31/03/2021£971k£773k

Common questions

Is LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net decrease in funds of £36,649 for the year ended 31 March 2025. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £3,657, which is significantly below the stated policy target of approximately £450,000 (equivalent to six months of running costs). The trustees identified the lack of unrestricted reserves as a major risk and noted that the organisation is supported by a letter of underwrite from the Chair. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Simpson Wreford LLP.

What does the highest-paid employee of LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED?

Funders whose own accounts filings name LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED as a grant recipient include THE STOLLER CHARITABLE TRUST, THE VERNON ELLIS FOUNDATION, THE EARL FITZWILLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST, THE LINBURY TRUST, THE MAYFIELD VALLEY ARTS TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE STOLLER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£131k
THE VERNON ELLIS FOUNDATIONFY2024£112kDonation (including waived loan)
THE EARL FITZWILLIAM CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£65k
THE LINBURY TRUSTFY2024£50kTowards the Music in Care Programme, using music to support quality of life for people in care homes.
THE LINBURY TRUSTFY2025£50kTowards the Music in Care Programme, using music to support wellbeing of older people with long-term neurological conditions.
THE MAYFIELD VALLEY ARTS TRUSTFY2024£25k
THE MAYFIELD VALLEY ARTS TRUSTFY2023£23k
THE KATHLEEN HANNAY MEMORIAL CHARITYFY2025£20k
THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2023£16k
THE MAYFIELD VALLEY ARTS TRUSTFY2022£15k
THE VERNON ELLIS FOUNDATIONFY2024£12kDonation
THE WILL CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10kLearning Disability
THE HEADLEY TRUSTFY2022£8kHealth and Social Welfare Covid-19 Revenue Support grants.
THE STOLLER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£7k
CHARITIES OF THOMAS WADE AND OTHERSFY2025£6kProvision of facilities for recreation, amusement, entertainment and general social intercourse
WHITAKER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£5k
WHITAKER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5k
THE VERNON ELLIS FOUNDATIONFY2025£5kDonation made in the year
THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£5k
THE GROCERS' CHARITYFY2022£5kElderly
THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£5k
THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5k
DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£4k
SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUSTFY2024£3k
THE HULL AND EAST RIDING CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£3k
THE COTTON INDUSTRY WAR MEMORIAL TRUSTFY2022£2kNote 6(x)
THE DAVID GIBBONS FOUNDATIONFY2026£2k
CHARITIES OF THOMAS WADE AND OTHERSFY2023£2kProvision of facilities for recreation, amusement, entertainment and general social intercourse
THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATIONFY2023£2k
CHARITIES OF THOMAS WADE AND OTHERSFY2024£2kProvision of facilities for recreation, amusement, entertainment and general social intercourse
THE MILLICHOPE FOUNDATIONFY2023£2k
THE MILLICHOPE FOUNDATIONFY2022£2k
THE MILLICHOPE FOUNDATIONFY2025£2k
THE AUSTIN AND HOPE PILKINGTON TRUSTFY2022£1kQuarterly Grants for Institutions - Round One - The Arts Early Career Projects
THE SYLVIA AND COLIN SHEPHERD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£1k
THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATIONFY2024£1k
WHITAKER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£1k
PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENTFY2023£1kgeneral
PAUL AND LOUISE COOKE ENDOWMENTFY2022£250
THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£0

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund15/06/2026£20kThe Lullaby Project: Supporting Mothers Strengthening Families
The National Lottery Community Fund24/04/2025£20kMusical Memory Cafes
The National Lottery Community Fund06/01/2023£10kMusical Memories
City Bridge Foundation02/12/2021£71kGrant to Live Music Now South East
The National Lottery Community Fund25/11/2021£10kIncluding Me - music-making for children with disabilities
The National Lottery Community Fund19/10/2021£10kCovid 19 - The Place
The National Lottery Heritage Fund02/11/2020£2k"#15 Unlocked (Datgloi)"
The National Lottery Community Fund15/04/2020£10kCOVID-19 - Soundtrack
The National Lottery Community Fund25/07/2019£10kThe Hopeless Pirate
The National Lottery Community Fund30/04/2019£5kAll Together Now
The National Lottery Community Fund22/11/2018£10kMusical Memory Cafe
City Bridge Foundation07/09/2018£86kGrant to Live Music Now South East
The National Lottery Heritage Fund08/02/2017£16k"Menuhin's Violin"
The National Lottery Community Fund12/11/2016£1kA World of Pure Imagination
The National Lottery Heritage Fund29/09/2016£10k"Land of Song and Tears"
The National Lottery Community Fund29/09/2016£5kWorld Of Pure Imagination
The National Lottery Community Fund15/07/2015£4kVision & Voice
The National Lottery Community Fund10/01/2013£10kJoyous Celebration
City Bridge Foundation28/07/2011£75kGrant to Live Music Now South East
The National Lottery Community Fund24/08/2006£7kParticipatory Community Concerts in Northumberland
The National Lottery Community Fund06/07/2006£5kMusic workshops for people with disabilities
The National Lottery Community Fund15/03/2006£5kThere is no project name available for this record
The National Lottery Community Fund14/12/2005£5kProject Expansion
The National Lottery Community Fund09/09/2005£3kTyne and Wear Special Schools World Music Tour
UK government—£261kFinancial Assistance/Support

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with BRIGHTON AND HOVE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY LIMITED.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED£1.4m£70,001 - £80,0001unclear—no doubt
BRIGHTON AND HOVE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY LIMITED FY2025£505k—0unclear—no doubt
Contemporary Music for All FY2025£209k—0unclear—no doubt
BIRMINGHAM CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP FY2025£630k—0above—no doubt
EARLY MUSIC AS EDUCATION FY2025£137k—0within—no doubt
MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND FY2025£5.7m—14unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.