Liam Gallagher, Sir Paul McCartney and other stars are among more than 1,500 artists urging the UK government to save the live music industry.
Liam Gallagher, Sir Paul McCartney and other stars are among more than 1,500 artists urging the UK government to save the live music industry.
An open letter addressed to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden highlights the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on venues, festivals, and the thousands who work behind the scenes.
Music Industry on the Brink
The letter warns of โmass insolvenciesโ with concerts and festivals unlikely to return until 2021. It calls for a clear timeline to reopen venues, financial aid, and a VAT exemption on ticket sales.
Big names including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton have added their voices to the Let the Music Play campaign.
Gallagher and Lipa Speak Out
Liam Gallagher emphasized the importance of the teams behind every great gig. โTheyโll all be out of jobs unless we can get back out there doing what we love,โ he said.
Dua Lipa reflected on her own journey, from small venues to international festivals. She said she fears emerging talent may not have the same opportunities without urgent government support.
Industry Faces Mass Job Losses
The letter states that hundreds of redundancies have already taken place across agencies, venues, and promoters. Without immediate action, many more jobs will be lost.
Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, who also runs London venues, called the situation โsad and shocking.โ He warned that without help, the UK could lose its next generation of music stars.
Government Response
A government spokesperson acknowledged the crisis and highlighted ongoing support through loans and the job retention scheme. Dowden promised a โclear roadmapโ but admitted decisions on social distancing remain difficult.
Source: BBC
Photo: Getty