Hull company launches Play One We Know to support grassroots artists and venues

Music platform will help fans discover, share and back the people and places who need it most

A Hull-founded company has launched Play One We Know, a new grassroots music platform designed to help artists, bands and venues build more sustainable futures in an increasingly difficult music economy. Play One We Know, also known as POWK, has been created to encourage people to move from passive listening to active support; helping fans discover, share and back the artists, venues and music communities that need support most.

At the heart of the platform is a simple message: make money, save money, and make grassroots music more sustainable. POWK is being built to help artists and venues turn attention into income, use simple tools to better understand their position, and create stronger direct relationships with the audiences who care about them.

The initiative comes at a time when many emerging artists are struggling to turn visibility into income. Streaming platforms have made music more accessible than ever, but for grassroots artists the challenge remains: how do you build a real audience, earn meaningful revenue and keep going long enough to develop a sustainable career?

For venues, the pressure is just as serious. Rising costs, changing audience habits and the growing dominance of digital platforms have made it harder for grassroots spaces to continue providing the stages where new talent can grow.

Co-founded by technology entrepreneur Gerard Toplass and Gerard Gibbons, a board director at the iconic Hull venue The New Adelphi, POWK has grown from a shared obsession with grassroots music. Together, the pair attend around 100 gigs a year, supporting artists and venues across Hull, Yorkshire and the wider UK grassroots scene.

Mr Toplass said: “Streaming has changed music forever. It has made discovery easier, but it has not solved the problem of sustainability for the artists and venues at the grassroots level. As a technology entrepreneur, I can see the huge potential of digital platforms, but I can also see where they fall short.

“Attention does not always turn into income, and discovery does not always turn into meaningful support. POWK is about making that support simple.

“A fan should be able to scan a QR code at a gig, on a poster, at a venue or online, and immediately take an action that helps an artist or venue – whether that is buying, donating, sharing, joining, booking or finding out more. Our message is simple: we want to help grassroots artists and venues make money, save money and build more sustainable futures.”

Mr Gibbons said: “Grassroots venues are where music culture starts. They are the places where artists learn, audiences discover something new, and scenes begin to grow.

“Through my work with The New Adelphi, and through going to gigs across the country, I see first-hand how much talent exists at grassroots level, but also how fragile the ecosystem can be.

“POWK is about backing the people and places that keep music alive. We want to give artists and venues simple tools that help them bring in support, understand what they need, reduce waste, make better decisions and connect more directly with audiences.

“As a Hull-born initiative, that matters to us deeply. Hull has always had creativity, independence and community at its heart, and we want Play One We Know to become an idea that helps grassroots music far beyond the city.”

One of the practical ways POWK helps is through simple QR-led support tools. Artists and venues can use QR codes to direct fans and audiences to support the artists and venues they love instantly.

In an increasingly digital world POWK makes it easy for fans to support; the aim is to make support easier in the moment – at a gig, in a venue, on a poster, at a merch table, or through social media – turning audience attention into practical action. POWK also includes simple Artist and Venue Health Checks, designed to help grassroots artists and venues take stock of where they are now, including income, audience growth, live activity, programming, support networks and long-term sustainability.

The initiative is now inviting artists, venues, promoters, music organisations and fans to get involved. Find out more at playoneweknow.co.uk