Image credit: Tom Rogerson

Years of red tape and extra costs for artists may be coming to a close, what’s the latest on EU touring for UK artists?

This week, the UK’s prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new agreement with the EU for trading. Over 5 years on from the UK’s exit from the European Union, many have faced new struggles in the wake of Brexit.

Musicians have been among those heavily affected by Brexit. The end of free travel between the UK and EU has meant that artists must pay extra costs and go through new layers of beuracracy to tour their music.

Following this week’s new agreements between the UK and EU, the music industry hoped for news on touring musicians. For now, Starmer simply writes that “the United Kingdom recognise the value of travel and cultural and artistic exchanges, including the activities of touring artists.”

A positive yet ambiguously inactive statement, the music industry was hoping for more. UK Music Chief Executive, Tom Kiehl said: “Commitments made to support cultural exchange for touring artists are an important first step on the road to what we hope will ultimately become a new deal between the EU and UK. Musicians and crew effectively suffered a “no deal brexit” once the UK left the EU and it is high time this is tackled.”

Kiehl continues: “Labour was elected on a manifesto to help touring artists and while we seek more concrete commitments, we welcome their efforts to ensure it is included in these important discussions.”

UK touring musicians have been forgotten in the Brexit Deal

Music industry organisations across the UK joined up to write an open letter to the UK government in advance of their summit. In their letter, they state that “the current arrangements are not working” for artists travelling between the EU and UK.

Current arrangements mean that artists and their crew are subject to different permits and visas between different countries. This has also increased the costs for artists, especially damaging for smaller, independent artists working to an already small touring profit.

The UK government said that they will explore “how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent”.