UK to Lose Billions After Brexit Leaves British Artists Unable to Tour EU Without Work Permits

Even though most British musicians agree that “the show must go on,” such a thing may no longer be possible for them. Not at least without obtaining a visa and work permits in order to perform in the European Union countries, as both sides’ authorities have failed to reach a joint agreement during the Brexit negotiations that would permit British musicians visa-free touring in the EU countries.

An online petition demanding visa-free travel throughout European countries for musicians and artists, initiated by video director Tim Brennan, has been signed by over 284,180 persons as yet, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

British musicians like Sir Elton John, Sting, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, Sir Simon Rattle are among those who have supported the petition, which reached the threshold of the number needed (100,000 signatures) for an issue to be debated in the British Parliament.

However, a parliamentary debate regarding the petition ended in the government pointing out that there was nothing that could be done now.

Responding to the Parliamentary debate regarding the campaign, Britain’s Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage said that the idea was ‘not consistent with Brexit.’

“Our proposals were very straightforward: they involved capturing the work done by musicians, by artists, by entertainers and their accompanying staff, through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors. This would have meant performers and artists could have worked and traveled in the EU more easily and would mean that there were no requirements for work permits either,” she said, insisting that it was the EU that rejected this proposal.

The failure to reach a deal that would help musicians travel visa-free to some European countries has sparked ongoing controversy between London and Brussels.

Continuous Polemics Between UK & EU

Britain’s authorities blamed the EU for failing to find a standard solution that would help revive the music industry and facilitate British citizens’ travel.

However, the open accusations were not accepted by the European Union authorities, as an EU source insisted that the United Kingdom was the one who did not accept the offer of visa-free tours in Europe.

But the United Kingdom’s government blamed Brussels for the extra paperwork and costs, which according to the industry, will be “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” pushing several artists to quit touring.

A Labour MP said that it would be a ‘devastating act of self-harm’ if the government does not renegotiate on visa-free travel for musicians, whereas the UK’s culture secretary Oliver Dowden called on the musicians to lobby to the EU to facilitate new visa and work permit rules.

Members of UK’s Parliament Urge for a Solution

Member of Parliament Kevin Brennan agreed with musicians’ cause, adding that he felt the issue had been “shunted into the irrelevant sidings of post-Brexit immigration policy.”

Whereas Member of Parliament Harriet Harman said that the situation is not a COVID-19 problem, even though the virus has made things immeasurably worse.

“Without a deal on visa-free touring, the costs in time and money of dealing with 27 different regimes – of getting certificates and paying for visas and carnets – will undermine touring and cut a swathe through our music sector,” Harman pointed out.

“We are the country that gave the world the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Britpop, Elton John, Queen and other cultural exports that are revered around the world,” Chair Catherine McKinnell, also a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament, said, asserting that if the UK were to lose its status as a cultural hub, it would be “an absolute tragedy.”

British Artists Raise Pressure for Renegotiations With EU

Artists that have supported Tim Brennan’s petition include Julie Elliott MP for Sunderland Central, Jamie Stone MP for Caithness, Sutherland, and Easter Ross, Hilary Benn MP for Leeds Central, Jeff Smith MP for Manchester Withington, Jamie Stone MP for Caithness, Sutherland, and Easter Ross, Tracy Brabin MP for Batley & Spen and others.

Elton John and the bassist of Radiohead Colin Greenwood expressed their concerns in the press, mentioning all the problems that would await the UK’s musicians if European countries close their doors for them, as some countries like Italy, Spain, and Denmark require additional permits, as the rules differ in EU countries.

The campaign to reach a visa-free deal between the UK and the EU has also been backed by other artists such as Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Roger Daltrey, Kim Wilde, Glastonbury organizers Michael Emily Eavis, as well as Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music.

Elton John previously stressed that UK’s Brexit negotiators had “screwed up,” adding that “it’s ultimately down to the British government to sort it out: they need to go back and renegotiate.”

Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood said the UK government “didn’t do enough” in negotiations.

Almost half of UK’s £5.8 Billion Income From Music Comes From Tours in EU

The Musicians’ Union, which protects 32,000 British musicians’ rights, also called on the British government to renegotiate with the EU regarding the issue.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians stressed that 44 percent of the UK’s musicians earn half their income from touring in Europe.

According to a UK Music report published in November, music creators could face a two-thirds loss in their income due to the COVID-19 situation. The report highlighted that live music revenues would decrease by 85 percent until the end of last year due to the spread of COVID-19.

The UK Music trade body, which employs about 200,000 workers, contributed £5.8 billion to Britain’s economic sector in 2019, compared to £5.2 billion in 2018.

“That’s compared to fishing, which was upheld as this great sovereign thing – and I can understand, we have to rule the waves, you know, but that’s 1.4. Look at the difference,” UK Music’s Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said.

A total of £3 billion in export revenue was generated in 2019, a nine percent increase compared to 2018 figures.

The British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), engaged in managing a government export scheme, stressed that nearly £12 had been generated for every £1 invested.