UK Music Calls For Government Action To Boost Recovery As New Report Reveals Covid Wiped Out One In Three Music Jobs

UK Music unveiled its This Is Music 2021 annual report, which revealed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the music industry and called for more action from the Government to ensure the industry recovers and thrives.

UK Music's research featured in the report shows that employment in the music industry plunged by 35% from 197,000 in 2019 to 128,000 in 2020. The music industry’s economic contribution fell 46% from £5.8bn to £3.1bn in 2020 and exports dropped 23% from £2.9 billion in 2019 to £2.3 billion in 2020.

The report also outlined UK Music's Music Industry Strategic Recovery Plan, which, among other measures, called on the called on the Government to introduce tax incentives for the music industry to stimulate growth and jobs, take urgent action to remove the barriers to touring the EU, introduce a permanent reduction in VAT rate on live music event tickets and give more funding and support for music exports. 

In addition to UK Music’s research, UK Music also commissioned Public First to survey the views of the general public on the music industry. The survey's findings showed the huge public support for the industry, including the revelation that 75% of the public are proud of the UK music industry and its heritage, 59% believe music improves the UK’s reputation overseas, 74% say music is important to their quality of life and the UK listens to 60 billion hours of music a year – the equivalent of 7 million years.

Read the report here.

MPs Join Forces To Demand “Urgent Action” From PM Boris Johnson Over EU Touring Crisis Facing Musicians And Crew

A letter has been sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on behalf of cross-party MPs from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music demanding “urgent action” over the crisis facing musicians and crew touring the EU.

In the letter (here) to Boris Johnson, senior Conservative MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music David Warburton highlighted how the PM had pledged in March to “fix” the problems surrounding touring the EU.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music also revealed plans to hold a cross-party inquiry into the costly barriers and delays facing musicians, particularly emerging artists.

They are calling on the music industry to submit evidence via a short survey. The survey can be found here - have your say!

Read more here.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin Calls For Equal Access To Music Education

As part of Black History Month, UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin wrote for PRS for Music's M Magazine about the need to make access to music education open to all.

He highlighted the importance music eductaion to the music industry and the socio-economic barriers some children face in getting access to this education.

He also outlined action that UK Music would like to see to ensure music education is open to all.

Read more here.

UK Music Responds To Budget By Urging Government To Back Three-Point Plan To Boost Music Industry

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced in his Budget and Spending Review measures to maintain business rate relief for hospitality and leisure businesses, and enhance the orchestra tax relief.

These measures were welcomed by UK Music's Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin. However, he also called on the Government to back three key measures to help the sector continue rebuilding after the pandemic.

The key measures UK Music put forward to ensure the industry's recover from the impact of the pandemic are securing the talent pipeline, supporting and incentivising infrastructure and encouraging exports abroad and fostering investment.

The proposals are outlined in more detail in UK Music’s Music Industry Strategic Recovery Plan.

Read the plan here.

UK Music Welcomes New Trade Deal With New Zealand

UK Music welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement agreed in principle between the UK and New Zealand, which includes commitments to vital new copyright protections for musicians, performers and music companies. 

The new Agreement in Principle includes, in line with UK Music’s recommendations, an important commitment from New Zealand to extend copyright term by 20 years for authors, performers and producers (which will be implemented within 15 years of entry into force of the FTA).

UK Music also welcomed the commitments to adopt or maintain a public performance right for performers to cover communication to the public of phonograms.

Copyright term extension means musicians and music companies will be able to receive the royalties they deserve for longer. Music released towards the end of the last century onwards will benefit from term extension in New Zealand when this provision comes into force.

UK Music made a number of representations to the UK Government, through its Trade Advisory Group and other channels, on the measures needed so the music industry can benefit from any deal with New Zealand.

Read more here.