MPs are sounding the alarm on the Brexit blues that's crippling Britain's touring artists. A damning report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee warns of an existential threat to the livelihoods of performers and musicians, unless the government takes swift action to ease the financial and logistical burdens.
The stark reality for UK talent is laid bare in a scathing critique of post-Brexit hurdles that are leaving even seasoned acts reeling. Singer-songwriter Kate Nash's harrowing tale of losing £25k on a European tour is just one example of the alarming trend, with younger artists disproportionately affected. The 'strangling' of future UK talent has been a long-anticipated consequence, first flagged by industry leaders in 2022.
The CMS Committee's urgent recommendations are clear: re-engage with vital cultural cooperation schemes like Creative Europe and its proposed successor, AgoraEU, to restore crucial travel funding for artists. The government must also revisit negotiations with the EU on customs barriers, short-term touring visas, and complex rules surrounding goods transportation – a bureaucratic nightmare that's leaving performers broke.
Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the CMS Committee, spells out the problem: 'a whole range of new hoops to jump through' for British artists planning European tours. She insists this is not about renegotiating Brexit, but finding solutions to support touring artists – a mutual interest that's clear given the strong demand from Europe for UK performers.
UK Music's Tom Kiehl has described the past decade as one of 'uncertainty' for the music industry, with the Brexit deal failing to address the needs of touring musicians and cultural workers. The implications are already evident, with Manchester band Witch Fever revealing they were left 'broke' after a two-month UK and European tour due to withholding tax complications.