Musicians’ Union to approach government to raise post-Brexit touring concerns

‘It’s very encouraging to listen to the necessity to discover options for touring musicians talked about so typically by the Labour ministers.’

Three-quarters of musicians who used to work within the European Union have confronted a decline in bookings post-Brexit. Greater than half of musicians say that touring in Europe is now not ‘financially viable.’

These had been the findings of a survey by the Musicians’ Union (MU), which polled its members and the broader music group concerning the points they’re experiencing when touring throughout the EU. The union says it is going to elevate the difficulty with the brand new Labour authorities in mild of the ballot. 

Out of the 200 respondents, 79 % mentioned that they had been unable to make up for the losses they’ve incurred since Britain formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020. 41 % of the musicians surveyed mentioned they had been compelled to rent tools within the EU to restrict the price of acquiring the worldwide customs paperwork that allow the importing and exporting of products, generally known as a Carnet. 72 % mentioned that their work within the EU had fallen, and 13 % had discovered that each one or a part of their touring charges had been withheld as a result of points with tax and nationwide insurance coverage.

Earlier than the overall election, Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore who’s now tradition secretary, described how musicians now discover it “nearly unattainable” to work on the continent as a result of growing touring prices, as a “horrible disappointment.”

In Could, the then shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged that Labour would decide to introducing a touring visa for UK artists. Throughout a speech to enterprise leaders, Reeves mentioned: “We are going to forge a better relationship with our nearest neighbours within the European Union, to ease the burden of paperwork and pink tape on British companies.”

Noting that Labour had made such a dedication, the MU mentioned it was fortunate that the survey had coincided with a “new authorities to speak to.”

Dave Webster, MU’s head of worldwide, referred to the transfer as “important” for the music business.

“It’s very encouraging to listen to the necessity to discover options for touring musicians talked about so typically by the Labour ministers.

“We stay up for working with our music business colleagues and Labour to drive this course of ahead. It’s refreshing to have our considerations lastly taken severely. The previous 4 years have now paid dividends in profitable the argument for change,” mentioned Webster.