UK music industry unite to find an alternative for BREXIT

As Brexit inches closer, there is an air of uncertainty revolving around its ramifications and how will it affect the British music industry . Musician, agents, managers and everyone involved in the music scene are in a state of constant fear as a bad Brexit deal might lead to the collapse of the entire industry and are trying their best to convince the government to delay the deal in order to buy time for a well thought post Brexit plan. The British music industry are keeping a close watch on the proceedings of the deal to ensure that there is a smooth transition period in between. Sales and touring will take a hit due to the introduction of new deals, tariffs and taxes which will also lead to a ton of paper work. The industry is worried that Brexit might turn UK into a cultural jail and also hamper the free flow of artists performing in the country. It also means that young upcoming British will face a lot of problems to perform overseas or anywhere across Europe. upcoming artists wont be able to travel freely across Europe.  A new copyright law was approved in 2011 to comply with EU regulations and the main royalty collection society in the UK, -PRS expects current protection on sound recordings to remain the same. Multiple artists and major music executives have slammed Brexit in an open letter published by the Music4EU Initiative. Artists including Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Billy Bragg signed their names to the letter. Supporting organizations include the Association of Independent Music (AIM), Music Managers Forum (MMF), Musicians Union (MU), and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA), among many others. The  Letter reads as follows, We, the signatories of this letter, represent artists, producers, managers, businesses, and platforms from across the Music Industry in the UK and are writing to express our real concerns over Brexit and the current direction of the UK’s proposed departure from the EU. Brexit represents a significant threat to the UK’s Music Industry. Leaving the EU’s customs union, single market, VAT area and regulatory framework (in whole or part) could devastate our global market leadership, and damage our freedom to trade, tour and to promote our artists and our works. The music industry contributes £4.5 billion to the UK economy, and our world-beating artists helped to create exports of over £2.5 billion, which is growing fast in a global digital music business. Live music is at the heart of every artist’s business and contributed around £1bn to the UK economy, and freedom of movement is core to an artist’s ability to tour and promote their art. The EU’s proposed reforms to the Digital Single Market, many of which were submitted by the UK, are intended to help consumers and technology businesses grow the market yet further, and the proposals for the EU Copyright Directive are designed to help protect the value of our industry’s output on major technology platforms. The UK music industry could be at a significant disadvantage to our peers in the countries remaining in the EU without these protections. According to a survey conducted by UK Music on the Music Industry’s views on Brexit, only 2% thought Brexit would have a positive impact on their chances of work. In the Post-Brexit UK, there is a clear risk that reaching consumers and fans will be more expensive, and international markets will be harder to access. Live events will run the danger of being delayed or even cancelled, which would undermine the financial and cultural benefits that this vibrant sector brings to UK PLC. No-one voted for this situation, whether they voted Leave or Remain. It is critical to find a way out of this mess, and therefore we ask you to examine alternative options to maintain our current influence and freedom to trade. Yours sincerely, followed up by all signatories. Paloma Faith Alan Mcgee Annie Lennox Nick Mason – Pink Floyd Chrissie Hynde Carl Barat – The Libertines Nadine Shah Stuart Camp – Grumpy Old Management Dave Rowntree – Blur Association of Independent Music (AIM) Beggars Group Billy Bragg Music Managers Forum (MMF) Public Service Broadcasting Enter Shikari David Arnold Jamie Cullum Musicians Union (MU) Music Producers Guild (MPG) Featured Artist Coalition (FAC) Fran Healy – Travis Broadwick Live Kilimanjaro Live Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) Coda Boomtown Festival Nitin Sawhney Fleet River Management Solo Agency British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA) Blood Red Shoes British Sea Power Get Cape Wear Cape Fly Ben Robinson – From The Fields – Blue Dot / Kendal Calling Ed Harcourt Cll Jon Tolley – Banquet Records Lightning Seeds Stephen Budd The Subways Red Grape music Peggy Seeger David Manders – Liquid management Beach Riot Ralph Lawson – 20/20 vision recordings Craig Jennings – Raw Power Danny Goffey – Supergrass Reverend And The Makers Mark Davyd Sammy Andrews – Deviate Digital Cliff Fluet Emma Greengrass Simon Esplen Alistair Norbury Marillion Emmy The Great Danielle Perry – Miss Perry Presents Ltd Cannibal Hymns Tigercub Stephen Taverner – East City Management Carwyn Ellis – Pretenders Band Of Skulls Chris Carey – Media Insight Consulting and FastForward Ros Earls – 104db management Jonathan Wood – Ooosh! Tours Ltd Peter Quicke – Ninja Tune Laurence Bell – Domino Recording Company John Giddings – Solo Agency Amy Bee Sting- Oh My God! It’s The Church Bill Ryder-Jones Ellie Giles – Step Music Management Kevin Fleming – Warp Records Andy Edwards Mick Patterson Kat Kennedy – Big Life Management