U.K. BIZ REQUEST TO GOV'T: SAVE OUR SUMMER

UK Music has unveiled a six-prong government action plan in a report titled Let the Music Play: Save Our Summer to get the live music industry back up and running.

Released on the day a new lockdown went into effect, the industry org has asked for 1) an indicative date for full-capacity restart 2) a government-backed reinsurance scheme 3) targeted financial support 4) extension of the VAT rate reduction on tickets 5) rollover of the paid 2020 Local Authority license fees and 6) extension of business rates relief.

“The task for the music industry is therefore to first demonstrate that we can effectively manage the health risk by taking necessary measures to reduce the risk of transmission at live music events, and secondly to find a way to operate in the current landscape in a way that is financially viable,” U.K. Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin wrote in the report.

“With the right support the live music industry can be at the forefront of the post-pandemic recovery and play a key role in our country’s economic and cultural revival—but there will need to be a concerted effort from industry and the government together if we are to let the music play and save our summer.”

UK Music is asking the government to establish a task force to advise, evaluate and validate the various innovations the industry plans to implement. It requests that what was done with the Sports Technology and Innovation Group be applied to the live performing-arts sector.

“The clock is ticking, and any day soon we could see major festivals and events start pulling the plug for lack of certainty,” Njoku-Goodwin told The Guardian.

Read the full report here.