A new report on the impact of Brexit on British musicians and performers who are seeking to play shows in Europe highlights the decline in performances since the UK left the European Union and also estimates the economic consequences of that decline.
When the UK left the EU in 2020, musicians and performers faced various new costs and restrictions when touring around Europe, with visa and travel permit rules differing from country to country.
According to the new report, which was commissioned by the UK government, the total number of performances by British artists in Europe in 2024 was 21% down compared to 2019.
That not only impacts on the performers themselves, but also the crews and companies they work with. When all of that is combined, it's estimated the UK music industry and other performing art sectors lost £208 million in ‘gross value added’ and about 2490 jobs between 2022 and 2024.
The report also notes that “small and mid-scale artists and companies, freelancers, and crews and hauliers have been disproportionately impacted”. Emerging artists in particular have “faced reduced opportunities to build audiences, develop professional networks and sustain career progression, with implications for diminished future export growth and international market development”.
Ahead of the 2024 General Election, the Labour Party specifically referenced “touring artists” in its manifesto commitment to “improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU” by “tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade”. The music industry has been pressuring the government to make good on that promise ever since.
Though doing so also requires convincing EU institutions and member states of the benefits of removing the bureaucracy and restrictions that have impacted on British performers and their crews ever since Brexit. To that end the new report also stresses the negative economic impacts felt by EU countries.
It states that “reduced touring by UK musicians after EU exit has led to an estimated total loss of approximately £1.04 billion in gross value added for EU host countries”, with Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Ireland the most affected.
The Cultural Exchange Coalition - which brings together various organisations from across the UK and EU creative industries - says that the new report “clearly shows that touring by UK artists and companies across the EU delivers significant economic and cultural value for both sides”.
Not only that, it adds, but “in challenging times, culture can be a bridge, an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes”. With that in mind, “we urge the UK government and European institutions to secure practical solutions for the creative industries and cultural sector at the next UK/EU Summit”.
The various specific issues created by Brexit for British artists touring Europe have been widely discussed ever since the UK left the EU, but are also summarised in the report. It includes visa and travel permit issues, customs procedures and carnets, transport and haulage restrictions, and tax complexities around merchandise sales.
The report was based on industry interviews and data provided by UK collecting society PRS. John Mottram, Chief Strategy, Communications And Public Affairs Officer at the rights organisation, has welcomed the report and urged ministers to act.
“Behind these figures are real people”, he says, “songwriters and composers who are being held back by costly red tape, missing out on chances to connect with new audiences, progress their careers and earn a living from performances across Europe”.
“We now call on the UK government to redouble its efforts and deliver on its manifesto commitment to make it easier for UK artists to tour in the EU”, he adds. “This would help creators earn a living, bring real value back into the economy and create thousands of jobs across the touring industry”.