UK MUSIC UNVEILS NEW REPORT OUTLINING STRATEGY TO RESTART LIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY WHEN SAFE UK Music today publishes its Let the Music Play: Save Our Summer 2021 report, which outlines a clear strategy to protect and support the multi-billion pound live music industry so it is ready to restart when safe to do so later this year.
The report, which you can view here, sets out the economic, social and cultural value of live music, along with a blueprint for reviving live music after Covid-19 forced the effective closure of the sector last March.
In particular, it warns that the lack of Covid cancellation insurance available is the biggest barrier to major events happening in 2021, and calls for Government to introduce an insurance scheme as it did for the film and TV sector.
UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin and Paul Reed, CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals both gave evidence today at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's inquiry into music festivals. You can watch this session back here.
The report's publication will be coupled with an S.O.S call from UK Music to "Save Our Summer 2021" with the campaign hashtag #SaveOurSummer2021.
It comes amid mounting calls on the Government for clarity from organisers of world-leading events like Glastonbury, grassroots venue operators and the music industry's workforce of almost 200,000 about how live music can be swiftly and safely restarted.
The pandemic has resulted in a 90.2% drop in revenue for festivals in 2020 with fears of redundancies of up to 50% in the workforce, according to the Association of Independent Festivals.
When live music suffers, the whole music industry suffers. The impact has been felt across the industry. Up to 80% of music creators' income in 2020 will be lost. There are fears up to 71% of musicians are either actively considering leaving the sector or are unsure if they will continue according to a survey by the Musicians' Union.
The Music Venue Trust estimated that Covid-19 restrictions reduced capacities by 75% at Grassroots Music Venues, cut trading hours by 50 to 75%, limited both performances and performers, and introduced heavy additional costs on venues.
UK Music's Let The Music Play: Save Our Summer 2021 report includes a clear plan for the Government to help the live music sector get back in business as soon as possible.
The key calls for action in the report are: • An indicative date for a full capacity restart • A Government-backed indemnity scheme • Targeted financial support for the sector • Extension to the VAT rate reduction on tickets • Rollover of the paid 2020 Local Authority licence fees for festivals to 2021 • Extension to business rates relief
Please help the campaign by sharing the report on social media and using the hashtag #SaveOurSummer2021. You can download assets for the campaign here. | 
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