EVENT FOCUS
#LETTHEMUSICPLAY The live music industry calls upon the UK Government to present a clear timeline for venues reopening and a financial support package for the sector. Three days after the campaign, the government responds, stating that cultural and heritage organisations are to be protected with £1.57bn support package…
On Thursday 2 July, the music industry joined forces under the banner of #LetTheMusicPlay for one purpose – to send one united message, calling for the British government to provide immediate assistance during this trying time. Along with some of the world’s biggest artists, UK-based crew members, rental houses and manufacturers also got behind the campaign to show solidarity in support of a worthy cause. When the lockdown first became a reality on 23 March, few would have thought that we would make it to July and still not have a clear idea of the future of live events and when they were due to return. Although regulations are beginning to slacken, with shops now open and pubs not too far behind, the live events sector is still somewhat of a question mark in the UK. Although the government released a five-point roadmap, there has been significant backlash as the advice still doesn’t provide solid dates and, what’s more, doesn’t seem to take into account the reality of keeping a venue open while not being able to operate at standard capacity. Turn to page 66 for more on this. These frustrations culminated on 2 July, with the global events market coming together under the #LetTheMusicPlay banner. Spearheaded by UK Live Music along with the Music Venues Trust, the campaign saw some of the world’s leading touring talents such as the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Sir Paul McCartney, Iron Maiden and many more making an urgent plea for government aid to the sector, warning that a lack of support and continued uncertainty around reopening is having a “devastating” impact on one of the world’s biggest live music markets. The appeal was centred on a letter to the UK’s culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, signed by 1,500 artists and bands, touring personal and members
of the events industry. The joint letter stated: “UK live music has been one of the UK’s biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade. But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak. “Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry.” As part of the campaign, the overall message is for the government to provide a clear, conditional timeline for reopening venues without social distancing, a comprehensive business and employment support package, access to finance and full VAT exemption on ticket sales. The business and employment support package should include, they say, a government-backed insurance scheme to allow shows to go ahead; an extension of the furlough scheme and help for the self-employed to prevent mass redundancies; rent breaks for venues to allow them to reopen; an extension of business-rate relief to the entire live music supply chain; rolling over fees for single-premises event licences for festivals; and financial support for lost box-office income. “July would normally see the UK embarking on a world-famous summer of live music, but this year the lights are switched off and the microphones unplugged,” commented Phil Bowdery, Chairman of the Concert Promoters’ Association. “Live music has sought to play its role in helping tackle coronavirus, with many artists providing entertainment for people from their homes. But our shutdown is likely to go on for much longer than most, with many concerts and festivals unable to operate until 2021 at the 11
