Competition bosses have warned MPs that the present Brexit deal stands to threaten the UK’s “expertise pipeline”, in addition to the nation’s entry to European artists.
Representatives from the reside music trade spoke to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s inquiry into ‘The future of UK music festivals’ today (January 5) about what the panorama may appear to be this summer time and what help from the federal government can be wanted for occasions to return after COVID.
In the direction of the top of the session, MP Kevin Brennan requested contributors about the new Brexit deal – and concerns that it will damage the UK live music industry by way of the introduction of latest prices, tariffs, paperwork and restrictions stopping artists and crew from touring freely. A petition calling for a new “cultural work permit” has since received phenomenal support and over 200,000 signatures – whereas music fans are also encouraged to write to their MP.
Parklife co-founder and Night time Time Financial system Adviser for Better Manchester Sacha Lord mentioned that it the present Brexit deal stands to have a massively detrimental influence in terms of reserving bands.
“If you’re taking a look at headliners and paying for the visa, it in all probability gained’t make a lot distinction – however really, once you stand at Parklife and take a look at the headliner, that headliner has not develop into a star in a single day,” he advised the listening to. “They’ve began from grassroots and grassroots venues. So in the event you take a look at a six-piece band now, to carry them into Parklife you’re in all probability taking a look at £1,800 in visa charges, which for smaller bands that are simply breaking is just not viable.
“That could be a huge [piece of] purple tape and a giant barrier that’s in the best way now and by no means was earlier than. It would stagnate new expertise coming by way of.”
British artists desirous to play European festivals would face the identical drawback. Each Sacha and Anna fear that this might influence the expertise pipeline for the UK’s £5.8bn trade – each agree the UK Govt have to get an settlement with the EU for touring acts to maneuver freely. (2/2)
— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) January 5, 2021
Anna Wade, boss of Boomtown Honest, added that it was a “large fear” for the event of UK artists wishing to develop their fanbase and hone their craft abroad earlier than returning to homeland festivals.
“Boomtown really has the privileged place of being a permit-free pageant, which really signifies that the visa course of is way extra simplified,” she mentioned. “By way of an answer for the bigger acts, that could possibly be one thing which could possibly be rolled out throughout the board to make {that a} a lot simpler course of for different occasions.
“The concern is that for that expertise pipeline, the venues within the UK, and the festivals, if we don’t have locations for these folks to craft and hone their expertise then the pipeline will simply dry up.”
Bang Hai Palace at Boomtown Honest 2019 CREDIT: Alamy
This comes after a authorities spokesperson told NME that their original Brexit deal plans to allow for more freedom of movement for touring artists and their crew were “rejected by the EU,” whereas the trade argued that this “wasn’t adequate” and continued to name for extra motion to stop “catastrophic” injury”.
The Parliamentary listening to additionally heard that many of this summer’s music festivals could be cancelled as soon as this month due to coronavirus fears with out pressing authorities readability and help.
At the moment additionally noticed UK Music share a new report, Let the Music Play: Save Our Summer 2021, outlining their suggestions for the way to restart the UK’s reside music trade as soon as it’s secure to take action with authorities help.
