Up and coming British music artists may fail to break through and become the headliners of the future because of the new rules on UK travel within the European Union.
Under a deal announced just before Christmas between the UK and the EU, people from the UK travelling to Europe will be able to travel visa-free for 90 days in 180.
However, many in the live music industry feel this is not enough and that restrictions may make it much harder for both new and already successful acts.
A petition started by video director Tim Brennan has been signed by almost quarter of a million people and has won backing from artists including Dua Lipa, Foals and Biffy Clyro (pictured).
The petition calls on the UK government to negotiate a free cultural work permit that gives visa-free travel throughout the 27 EU states for music touring professionals, bands, musicians, artists, TV and sports celebrities that tour the EU to perform shows and events.
A UK government spokesperson told music industry publication NME that their initial plans to accommodate the live music industry were “turned down by the European Union”.
Trevor Johnson, managing director at travel management company TAG with responsiblity for the music touring sector, told BTN Europe, “There is a high level of disappointment and consternation in the live concert touring sector that the Brexit deal has EU visa requirements beyond a 90-day stay, and no waiver agreement in place for artists or their crew. The costs involved, coupled with the logistical constraints, around visa applications to tour extensively across the continent will doubtless cause problems for emerging acts (and even the more established artists).
“Our touring customers understand and recognise that this has stemmed from a push-back from the EU member countries, but there is certainly a feeling that the UK government has not done enough to secure a viable option for UK-based talent to tour as they would like to."
He added, “As far as we understand it there is a committee being formed to force an enquiry and attempt to push for an EU states rethink, but as it stands with so much extra cost involved to obtain visas there is a fear that the new bands/talent pipeline may dry up, if they are unable to play across Europe as they previously have done.”
The other big player in managing travel for the music touring sector, Global Travel Collection, agrees Brexit is creating problems for British artists.
Managing director Jason Oshiokpekhai, says: “The issues created by Brexit for the entertainment sector aren’t small issues; they threaten to have disturbing knock-on effects for the industry. The regulations risk not only jobs for the UK entertainment workforce, as some tours seek local resources to reduce labour costs, but the new financial hurdles they create will also prevent smaller productions or tours in Europe from being able to move forward. Small, fledgling bands, for instance, won't be able to grow into larger bands. “
TAG’s Johnson says that the problems for music artists are being exacerbated by Covid, with most gigs and festivals due to take place since March last year having been cancelled with little prospect of being rescheduled in the short term.
He said, “Much hinges on the summer period and whether music festivals are able to go ahead. The annual touring calendar is driven by the summer festivals in the UK and across Europe, which are generally lucrative for bands and artists to perform at. We will soon enter the period where summer festival organisers will reach crunch time, and have to make crucial decisions.”
Johnson is certain, however, that live music will return with a bang in the future.
He said, “One thing becoming clear is that the live touring industry will definitely ‘go big’ once it can return. In that future, the role of the skilled travel agent is going to be crucial.”