Beatport and Miller Genuine Draft are teaming up to give the global electronic music scene a much needed jolt. This time, by going straight to the source.
Building on their 2024 partnership, the world’s largest online DJ platform and the iconic beer brand have launched the Miller x Beatport The Grassroots Venue Fund. The bold international initiative is designed to support independent music venues in four key markets—Turkey, Hungary, Georgia, and Australia—where electronic music lives, breathes, and evolves.
“The fund represents a shared commitment to the future of electronic music,” said Yasemin Kosereisoglu, Director of Client Relations & Creative Production at The Beatport Group. “We’re investing in the infrastructure that keeps our culture alive.”
The launch comes at a critical juncture, as the global nightlife economy is in the midst of a dramatic slide. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of electronic music clubs has plummeted by 30% in Europe alone—part of a sharp long-term decline from more than 3,000 venues in 2005 to just over 850 today. Australia is experiencing a similar downturn: Since the start of the pandemic, 1,300 live music venues and stages have shut their doors for good, shrinking the landscape for small to mid-size performance spaces by nearly a third.
To help counter this decline, Miller and Beatport will award 60,000 euros, with 15,000 euros earmarked for one standout venue in each region. The aim of these grants is to improve infrastructure, fund programming, increase accessibility, and address critical needs that help venues nurture local talent and foster community.
“Electronic music connects communities in powerful and personal ways,” said Rebecca Mutty, Senior Global Marketing Manager for Miller Genuine Draft. “Through this partnership with Beatport, we’re proud to support the venues and the people behind them by helping preserve the cultural spaces that make nightlife matter, and ensuring they continue to thrive in the face of growing challenges.”
The application entry window opens July 30 to August 27 for Hungary-based venues, followed by August 13 to September 10 for Turkey. Submissions will open for Australia and Georgia in the coming weeks. Learn how to apply here.
To drive excitement for the campaign, Miller and Beatport are hosting live events across each market. The series began July 18 with a show in Istanbul, headlined by Italian DJ Deborah De Luca. Next up: Swiss DJ Nora En Pure will perform in Budapest on September 6. Additional events in Australia and Georgia will be announced soon.
All of the events will be captured for a forthcoming docuseries, a follow-up to 2024’s “Miller Mix” (which chronicled unsung music communities). The 2025 videos will spotlight the stories of local venue owners, fund recipients, and artists and DJs who continue to push the electronic scene forward.
Learn more about the Miller x Beatport The Grassroots Venue Fund here and stay locked on Complex for the latest news in music.
