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#LetTheMusicPlay reaffirms support for live music
Fans are asked to support the campaign and protect live entertainment across the UK.
Ticketmaster are proud to stand with #LetTheMusicPlay‘s continued efforts in highlighting the urgent issues facing the live entertainment industry across the UK.
As the Government reveals details of the recently unveiled Culture Fund, #LetTheMusicPlay’s message remains vital in ensuring that the full reach of the UK music and entertainment industry is adequately supported.
Through a continued call to action, the campaign both celebrates and aims to protect the live music ecosystem, itself home to over 200,000 jobs across thousands of companies and business types.
With over 200 roles involved in the production of every arena live performance – from specialist roles in venue operations, promotions, booking agencies, management, production and more – all jobs are now at serious risk.
The UK live music industry still faces a loss of over 60% of its workforce, with 50% of businesses involved in the supply of services to the live music industry only having liquidity for 4 months.
Earlier this summer, hundreds of artists including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, Little Mix, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Take That, Sam Smith, Beverley Knight and Muse pledged their support for the campaign, signing a letter sent to Oliver Dowden – the UK’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
“UK live music has been one of the UK’s biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade,” the letter read. “But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak.
“Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world- leading industry.”
The importance of live entertainment in the UK cannot be understated. As well as offering unique experiences to fans across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the live music industry added £4.5bn to the UK economy in 2019 – supporting 210,000 jobs.
Home to some of the best and most popular global venues – from grassroots to vast stadiums and arenas – the UK live music scene was set to lose 5 million visitors. Grassroots venues in particular faced uncertain times with 90% under threat of closure.
Festivals are also facing bankruptcy across the UK as they respond to widespread cancellations, affecting around 85,000 jobs.
“The UK’s venues, festivals, performers and crew bring so much to this country’s culture and economy, but they are now facing desperate financial challenges,” said Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis at the time of the letter’s release. “If the government doesn’t step up and support the British arts, we really could lose vital aspects of our culture forever.”
#LetTheMusicPlay is campaigning for the Government to reveal a clear, conditional timeline for fully reopening venues, a business and employment support package and full VAT exemption on ticket sales.
“I am proud to have had the chance to play through all the levels … small clubs, then theatres and ballrooms and into arenas, and of course festivals in between each touring cycle,” said pop superstar Dua Lipa. “But the possibility for other emerging British artists to take the same path is in danger if the industry doesn’t receive much needed government support in the interim period before all the various venues, festivals and promoters are ready and able to operate independently again.”
Ticketmaster stands alongside festivals, venues, and the entire live entertainment workforce across the UK.
