Music industry calls on Government to support £4.5bn live sector and launches #LetTheMusicPlay campaign
News: 2nd July 2020 by Stef Loukes under Artist Managers, Creative & Branding, Finance, Law & Music Business, Live, Media, Music Publishing, Music Training & Careers, Record Labels, Recording & Production, Selling & Distributing Your Music
Today over 1,500 artists and thousands more who contribute to the success of the industry have signed their names in a letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, to call for support for the UK's live music sector as part of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign.
Live music is one of the UK's biggest cultural and economic successes, bringing some of the world's greatest talent to the stage, contributing a massive £4.5bn to the economy and supporting 210,000 jobs across the country.
It's no secret that the sector has been completely crushed by the Covid-19 crisis, and with no end to social distancing in venues in sight or government support agreed, live music's situation is becoming increasingly dire. Music Venue Trust reports that 90% of grassroots music venues are under threat of closure.
This does not just affect the live sector. It is the talent pipeline and platform for the entire music industry.
The Let the Music Play campaign has 3 key asks of UK government:
1. A clear conditional timeline for reopening venues without social distancing.
2. An immediate comprehensive business and employment support package* and access to finance.
3. Full VAT exemption on ticket sales.
How can you help?
Artists and venues - post photos and videos of your last live gig with the hashtag #LetTheMusicPlay
Fans and industry professionals - do the same for the last gig you went to
Sign and share Music Venue Trust's open letter which calls for a a £50 million cash injection to ensure vital parts of the music industry do not go out of business
Now is the time to act to help save a vital part of our culture. Join us and make your voice heard!
Related Links
https://www.scribd.com/document/466569754/Open-Letter-to-the-UK-Government
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Music industry launches #LetTheMusicPlay campaign to call upon UK government to support live music sector
