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GigPig has secured new investment to help continue its mission of providing thousands of gigging opportunities across the UK.
The Manchester-headquartered business provides a platform that enables artists to find and play gigs at local venues, while also offering venues a streamlined approach to search, book and manage entertainment in-house.
GigPig began operations in 2022 and has since facilitated more than 35,000 gigs. The business was founded by Michael Forster, Kit Muir-Rogers, Andrew Garner and Ed Francis.
The latest round of investment includes backing from Chris Tottman of private equity firm Notion Capital and Mark Bennett from venture capital business Haatch. Elsewhere, angel investors and music industry experts Chris Meehan, Wolfgang Alistat, Andrea Mihalovits and former chief executive of Sky Bet Richard Flint, are supporting the business in growing its live music offering.
GigPig is planning to launch an app for artists to make it easier for musicians and DJs to find and book gigs. The app will also offer market insights for venues to better their understanding of the positive impact live music can have on sales and customer satisfaction.
Haatch’s Bennett commented: “GigPig is one of the most exciting start-ups in the UK right now, having developed a platform that connects venues and artists at unparalleled scale.
“While gigging in pubs and bars has long been the bedrock of the UK music scene, GigPig’s technology and industry expertise are set to drive the explosive growth of live music in the hospitality sector. This will not only help give thousands of venues a proven way to increase sales, but importantly provide artists with a platform to launch their careers and earn money doing what they love most.”
GigPig coined the term ‘Seed Music’, which describes the step before grassroots and refers to DJs, bands and soloists performing in venues such as pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs.
Chief executive Michael Forster added: “With the hospitality sector facing unprecedented challenges, we believe our mission to help every pub and bar maximise their potential with live music is more important than ever.
“Our platform has already helped hundreds of venues improve customer satisfaction, drive footfall and increase sales while giving thousands of artists an easier way to earn money gigging. We’re just getting started, and the investment announced today will help bring the benefits of live music to more communities in towns and cities across the UK.”
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