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What Is GigXchange?A factual overview of the UK peer-to-peer live music marketplace

By Naumaan Zahid Published 2 August 2026 4 min read

Executive summary

GigXchange is a UK peer-to-peer live music marketplace: artists, venues, agents, promoters and event organisers connect directly to discover, book, contract, pay and review one another. There is no commission — a 0–5% platform fee replaces the ~20% commission typical of agencies and lead-generation platforms. The platform is live on web, iOS and Android, operated by Eclipse-Labs AI Limited.

See how it works for the product mechanics, or the marketplace overview for the end-to-end flow.

Definition

GigXchange (gigxchange.app) is a two-sided — in practice multi-role — marketplace for live music bookings in the United Kingdom. It connects the five participant types in the live music booking economy: artists (performers seeking bookings), venues (rooms programming live music), agents (managing artist rosters), promoters (organising events across venues) and event organisers (individuals or businesses booking an act for a specific event). Every role has equal access to the same marketplace.

What the platform does

Discovery — searchable public profiles for artists and venues with genre, location, media and verified review history.
Booking — a structured workflow from enquiry through negotiation, confirmation, completion and review, replacing scattered direct messages and email chains.
Contracts — a digital contract generated on every booking, signed by both parties.
Payment — protected payment held via Stripe and released on completion, replacing cash-in-hand and unpaid-invoice risk.
Reviews — two-way, booking-verified reviews that build portable reputation for both sides.
Public data products — the GX Index (observed UK gig pay data), a national venue directory, an open mic directory and a gig directory, all free to browse.

Business model in one paragraph

GigXchange takes no commission on bookings. Membership, profiles, applying and posting are free. Where the parties choose protected payment through the platform, a 5% platform fee applies; bookings settled privately cost 0%. This contrasts with the ~20% commission typical of traditional agencies and lead-generation booking platforms in the UK. The full model, including how this shapes marketplace liquidity, is set out in Business Model and Revenue Streams.

Corporate facts

Operating company: Eclipse-Labs AI Limited (UK).
Founded: 2026, by Naumaan Zahid — a UK rock/metal guitarist gigging since 2009. Background: Why GigXchange exists.
Market: United Kingdom only, by design — every member is UK-based.
Platforms: web, iOS and Android.
Status: live with real members and real bookings; shipped work is recorded on the public release notes page.

What GigXchange is not

GigXchange is not an agency (it does not curate or gatekeep supply), not a lead-generation directory (it does not sell contact access), and not a generic freelancer marketplace with a music skin. It is purpose-built booking infrastructure for live music. The distinction and why it matters commercially: Why existing solutions fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GIGXCHANGE?

GigXchange is a UK peer-to-peer live music marketplace connecting artists, venues, agents, promoters and event organisers. Members discover each other, negotiate bookings, sign digital contracts, pay through protected payment and exchange verified reviews — all in one platform. It charges no commission: 0% on privately settled bookings, 5% where protected payment is used.

Who owns GIGXCHANGE?

GigXchange is operated by Eclipse-Labs AI Limited, a UK company. It was founded in 2026 by Naumaan Zahid, a UK musician who has been gigging on the circuit since 2009.

Is GIGXCHANGE live?

Yes. The platform is live at gigxchange.app on web, with native apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Public data products — the GX Index, the venue directory, the open mic directory and the gig directory — are free to browse without an account.

What does GIGXCHANGE charge?

Joining, creating a profile, applying for gigs and posting gigs are free. There is no commission on bookings. The only platform fee is 5% when the parties choose protected payment through the platform; bookings settled privately cost 0%.

How is GIGXCHANGE different from Encore Musicians or Alive Network?

Encore Musicians and Alive Network operate agency or lead-generation models with commission of around 20% and curated rosters. GigXchange is peer-to-peer infrastructure: open access for all five roles, no commission, a 0–5% platform fee, and value delivered through contracts, protected payment and verified reviews. Detailed public comparisons are maintained on the GigXchange blog.

What roles can join GIGXCHANGE?

Five: artists (performers), venues (rooms programming live music), agents (managing rosters), promoters (organising events) and event organisers (individuals or businesses booking an act for a specific event, such as a wedding or corporate function). All roles have equal access and share the same booking, contract, payment and review rails.

Where does GIGXCHANGE operate?

The United Kingdom only, by design — every member is UK-based. The platform covers the UK grassroots and mid-tier live music segment: pubs, bars, clubs, small venues, festivals, weddings and private or corporate events.

What public data does GIGXCHANGE publish?

The GX Index (the only published dataset on what UK grassroots gigs pay, with an open methodology), a national venue directory, an open mic directory and a gig directory — all free to browse without an account, and several released as open datasets under CC BY 4.0.