New analysis suggests that while the number of British musicians playing major EU festivals has surpassed pre-Brexit levels this summer, difficulties persist particularly for up-and-coming artists.
New analysis suggests that while the number of British musicians playing major EU festivals has surpassed pre-Brexit levels this summer, difficulties persist particularly for up-and-coming artists.
Figures published today by Best for Britain suggest that on average, the number of British musicians that have played, or are scheduled to play, European festivals this summer is 18% higher than 2017-2019.
The findings mark a significant improvement on 2022 where in the first festival season after Brexit and Covid restrictions, British musicians booked to play European festivals had fallen by 38% compared to the years 2017-2019. And similarly 2023, where numbers had improved slightly, but were still down overall by 23% on pre-Brexit numbers.
Despite the apparent recovery, music industry insiders attribute it to British acts and organisers becoming better versed at navigating the challenges thrown up by Brexit and that serious problems persist, including increased costs, paperwork and in making the transportation of equipment and merchandise more complex.
After speaking to six insiders, a combination of artists, managers, agents and tour staff, five said that admin and paperwork, as well as costs, had increased as a result of Brexit. While four out of six said that they themselves or the artists they managed were missing out on last minute opportunities due to Brexit barriers. Four out of six also said that Brexit had made the movement of equipment and merchandise far more difficult. The two that did not, work with DJs who usually require less equipment.
Five out of six also said that it was much harder for smaller and emerging artists to deal with the challenges outlined above. The Meffs are a small punk band from Essex who will be on tour in Europe from October. They not only explained how increased costs have prevented them from accepting offers to play in the EU, but described a complete lack of assistance in dealing with these new challenges.
In the Labour Party Manifesto, the new Government explicitly said that they “will help out touring artists”, but it is not yet clear how and when this will be achieved.
Best for Britain is campaigning for the introduction of a Visa Waiver Agreement with the EU for those working in the cultural sector on a temporary basis, and a review of cabotage arrangements as outlined in the TCA, in order to address the problems facing British acts touring with equipment. These are 2 of 114 recommendations designed to fix the problems Britain faces after Brexit.
Lily Hopkins, one half of the Meffs said,
“As a smaller band we have to consider every single show we take if it’s in the EU and we have to make a choice, and sometimes that means saying we can’t play that show because it’s not financially viable.
“At the start, we nearly didn’t get let out of the UK because we went through the wrong process. And there was just this assumption that we should know, and obviously we didn’t as we had never done it before.”
Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain said,
“Live music is at the centre of the British cultural landscape and though things are looking marginally less bleak, emerging artists continue to suffer from Brexit barriers, costing them time, money and most importantly, opportunities.
“Ours is a practical solution for how the Government can make good on their promise to assist UK touring artists, and in doing so help the next generation of British musicians thrive.”
Tables with the breakdown of music artists per festival per year.
