ARTISTS UNITE TO SAVE EU TOURING

More than 200 artists have joined the #LetTheMusicMove campaign to push for a reduction in the Brexit-related costs and red tape faced by U.K. musicians and businesses planning tours in the EU. Wolf Alice, Annie Lennox and Radiohead are among those lending their support.

The campaign is urging the government to act now to mitigate a slew of Brexit-related expenditures, restrictions and bureaucracy making EU touring virtually impossible and threatening the success of British music.

The U.K. is currently the second-largest exporter of music in the world, and Europe is its most important overseas market. In 2019, U.K. artists played almost four times as many shows in the EU as they did in North America, according to data from PRS for Music.

To preserve this level of activity, the campaign, which is backed by trade bodies UK Music, LIVE, MMF and FAC, is asking the government for: an urgent transitional support package to cover new and additional costs for touring artists and crews in the EU; measures to overcome restrictive “cabotage” rules on U.K. vehicles touring Europe; a viable long-term plan for U.K. artists and crews to continue working in all EU-27 countries without costly permits and bureaucracy; and to ensure that European artists have reciprocal freedoms and access to perform at U.K. venues and festivals.

Other artists supporting the campaign include IDLES, Bob Geldof, New Order, Biffy Clyro, Anna Calvi and Skunk Anansie. More information can be found here.

#LetTheMusicMove was launched the same day 50 U.K. music artists sent a letter to the Prime Minister, which was organized by WME on behalf of its clients, requesting that the U.K. urgently engage with the EU and its member states to ease the burden of seeking permissions each time artists and their teams wish to perform in EU countries.