It has been reported that more than quarter of UK musicians have lost all their EU based work since 2021.

In an article by Amelia Hill for the Guardian newspaper, the findings came from a cross-party report by European Movement UK, a single issue organisation that looks to build closer relationship with Europe.

Founded by Winston Churchill in 1949 it has 26,000 members and is currently led by politicians Caroline Lucas and Dominic Grieve.

Earnings drop

The report focussed on music and performing arts, and found that nearly half of UK musicians reported reduced EU work with more than a quarter losing all work.

Average tour earnings have fallen by 45% in the same period with nearly 60% of musicians stating that touring in Europe is no longer viable.

Reasons given were the multitude of visa and permit requirements now needed to be met, carnet and cabotage processes and greatly limited funding opportunities.

The Schengen '90 days in 180' has limited extended opportunities, whilst carnet costs for ensembles can now add up to £5,000 touring bills. The loss of Creative Europe funding is also cited as a major blow. Between 2014 and 2020, the programme invested Euro111m in 376 UK organisations, supporting research and development, co-productions, trade fairs and European networks.

The report concluded that unless barriers to mobility were addressed, the UK risks further weakening a sector central not only to employment and growth, but to its cultural reach abroad4BR

Issues

The article quoted Tom Kiehl, the chief executive of UK Music, who said the findings reflected a wider crisis across the creative economy, despite commitments to support exchanges.

"This research covers the experiences of our £8bn music sector and the 220,000 jobs it supports, but the issues highlighted — notably on mobility and on obstacles to British and EU professionals working in each other's jurisdictions — are highly relevant also to other creative industries, including film, TV and video," he said.

The report concluded that unless barriers to mobility were addressed, the UK risks further weakening a sector central not only to employment and growth, but to its cultural reach abroad.