Image Credit: Kieran Webber

A Recently Published Study Shows A 47% Year-Over-Year Drop In New Artists Touring Europe

The promotional initiative Liveurope which is party funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Program recently unveiled a telling projection in a detail heavy analysis. According to the report, the average number of Liveurope supported concerts featuring new artists dropped from 36 last season to 18 in 2020. This factors in each of the entities 15 member venues of which Liveurope provide payments to when venues book emerging acts from different European nations.

The average number of overall shows at each sponsored venue decreased from 36-22, considerably lower than 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons. The total amount of gigs decreased considerably in comparison to previously mentioned seasons, from 505 to 276. To conclude their study Liveurope suggested bolstered funding in future EU budgets, due to the financial risk associated with booking talent from across Europe may prove to be difficult in the post-covid world. 

On a broader note the disruption and uncertainty in the music industry (as well as subsequent lockdowns) is likely to put new artists off pursuing careers. In fact, a recent survey found that 64% of U.K musicians were considering permanently quitting the industry. To add to this a study released in October found that 55% of British musicians weren’t earning any money from music, mostly due to the social distancing requirements and large-gathering bans. 

However there is light at the end of the tunnel, the Pfizer vaccine that has been rolled out this month in the UK is the start of the end. Life is no doubt not going to return to normal anytime soon but we are moving closer to a return to live music in Europe. Globally is a different story as the USA seems to spiral Australia and New Zealand appear to have the situation under control. In fact, rock giants Guns ’n’ Roses have booked a November 2021 Oceania tour, stopping in Australia and New Zealand.