UK Music Chief Executive Welcomes DCMS Select Committe Call For “Make or Break” Action On Festivals

29.05.2021: UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has welcomed calls from a new House of Commons Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee Report that highlights the need for urgent action on festival insurance.

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UK Music

The call comes as the industry nears closer to the proposed June 21st re-opening date, which could see large scale events such as festivals allowed to return.

However, the Government still needs to act in implementing an insurance scheme that could “make or break” this summer’s festival season. Event organisers currently face huge risks on upfront costs, without any safety net. If the government does not act on insurance, we will see further cancellations this summer.

Jamie welcomed the report from the committee, chaired by Julian Smith MP, for shining a light on some of the issues UK festivals face post-Brexit.

The Future of UK Music Festivals Report found that festival sector revenue dropped by 90% in 2020 and that more than a quarter of festival with over 5,000 capacity, including Boomtown, Bluedot, BST Hyde Park, Glastonbury and many more had already cancelled for 2021.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:

“Julian Knight and the DCMS Select Committee deserve great credit for this timely and excellent report, which demonstrates the vital contribution of festivals to our £5.8 billion music industry and shows how, with the right support, our sector can help drive the post-pandemic recovery.

“We are just a few weeks away from large events potentially being allowed again – but organisers are being expected to plan these events and pay huge upfront costs without any sort of safety net. If the government does not act on insurance, we will see further cancellations this summer. This is a make or break moment for this year’s summer festival season.

“The report also identifies the new challenges and costs to the music industry when it comes to musicians working in and touring Europe. The new touring barriers are a lose-lose situation, and it is clear that more work needs to be done between the UK, EU and member states to sort out issues like visas, work permits and cabotage.

“Finding solutions to these challenges will ensure we remain a global hub for the world’s most diverse, inspiring and innovative festivals and live events, and enable the UK music industry to help drive the post-pandemic recovery.”

Source UK Music

May 28, 2021 11:00am ET by Pressparty  

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