UK music industry and artists urge government for more relief with #LetTheMusicPlay campaign
A wide-range of UK artists and institutions—including names like Paul McCartney, Dizzee Rascal, Skepta and Dua Lipa, as well as the likes of Four Tet, Black Coffee, Daniel Avery and Herbie Hancock—came together to support a letter to the UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden, organised by UK Music. It was signed by more than 1,500 artists in total.
“Our economic impact is also significant, with live music adding £4.5 billion to the British economy and supporting 210,000 jobs across the country in 2019,” the letter reads. “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 great world-leading industry.”
The industry is calling on the government to provide more financial assistance (by way of extending furlough schemes, rent relief and other measures), a clear timeline on reopening venues and VAT exemptions on ticket sales. See the full policy run-down here.
To get the word out about the initiative, there was a social media push today, asking fans and artists alike to share photos or videos from the last gig they went to before lockdown. Artists like Special Request, Fatboy Slim, Anna Calvi, Erol Alkan and Hot Chip voiced support, joined by institutions and promoters like Block9, Soul In Motion, shesaid.so, Printworks, Spiritland, NTIA, Music Venues Trust and more.
“It would be nice if we had a government that believed in the intrinsic human value of live music, but we don’t, so it’s time to start speaking on their level and that is £££££,” Daniel Avery said on Twitter.
See more artists and community posts in support of the campaign.
UK live music scene is in deep trouble right now and urgently needs support from the government. We will lose so many venues and the crew and production teams etc that make everything possible need support. Check #LetTheMusicPlay to see what’s going on. pic.twitter.com/0Vk1nHlSyy
— Four Tet (@FourTet) July 2, 2020
Block9 stands with festival & events workers, promoters, agents, artists, venues, festival goers and music lovers – the pillars that hold our beloved events industry together. The UK government MUST offer support to the live music industry now! #LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/5EnZGzMGEm
— block9 (@block9official) July 2, 2020
It would be nice if we had a government that believed in the intrinsic human value of live music but we don’t so it’s time to start speaking on their level and that is £££££ #letthemusicplay pic.twitter.com/eu1utMFP6a
— Daniel Avery (@danielmarkavery) July 2, 2020
#LetTheMusicPlay, asking the UK government to support the live music industry, which is in crisis at the moment with 50% of its workforce facing unemployment.
Please join in by sharing your own pics or vids of the last gig you went to before lockdown, tagging #LetTheMusicPlay. pic.twitter.com/pNkNUa7ued
— Fatboy Slim (@FatboySlim) July 2, 2020
Itching to get back to my happy place…❤️#LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/sRoyXNRwRN
— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) July 2, 2020
We are supporting the live music industry’s #letthemusicplay campaign #saveourvenueshttps://t.co/FSOLhrVmvL
— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) July 2, 2020
Fans aren’t the only ones missing live music experiences…look how much fun Herbie and @GustavoDudamel are having at Herbie’s last show before the pandemic at Disney Hall this past March as part of the #PowertothePeople Festival. #LetTheMusicPlay ?: Rob Gauthier pic.twitter.com/3Y3iSsCHPa
— Herbie Hancock (@herbiehancock) July 2, 2020
The live music industry adds £4.5 billion to the UK economy and supports over 210k jobs. The entire sector is under threat due to Covid-19 and we have signed a letter calling on the government to act now to help save it. #letthemusicplay pic.twitter.com/0yUrGKSjXE
— Hot Chip (@Hot_Chip) July 2, 2020
#LetTheMusicPlay https://t.co/aS7stTwk5b
— Paul Woolford (@PaulWoolford) July 2, 2020
We want to send a clear message out to @OliverDowden, to help prevent catastrophic damage to the live music industry.
We need immediate action.
Today, please share videos of your last pre-lockdown dj set or live gig, using #LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/YES6eRWijy
— erol alkan (@erolalkan) July 2,
2020
Today I’m joining friends and the wider music community to come together in support #letthemusicplay campaign.
We’re calling for the government to acknowledge the vitality of music to both culture and the economy in the UK and provide economic assistance and guidance on how to pic.twitter.com/BCkn0jE32r— Anna Calvi (@annacalvi) July 2, 2020
The live music industry adds £4.5 billion to the UK economy and supports over 210k jobs. The entire sector is under threat due to Covid-19 and we have signed a letter calling on the government to act now to help save it. #letthemusicplay pic.twitter.com/0yUrGKSjXE
— Hot Chip (@Hot_Chip) July 2, 2020
#LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/wAbGmzrwS6
— shesaidso (@shesaid_so) July 2, 2020
NTIA Supports The Live Music Industry which added 4.5 Billion to the economy in 2019 and supported 210, 000 jobs across the UK! We are asking artists, fans, venues and professionals to share videos and images of their last live gig TODAY under the banner of #LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/D7vdgnjW6L
— NTIA (@wearethentia) July 2, 2020
#LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/ggQcVNtYfg
— SOUL IN MOTION (@SoulinMotionLDN) July 2, 2020