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Musicians and industry leaders from the UK and Europe have joined forces to demand urgent action to remove the barriers to touring across the EU.
13.05.2025: Musicians and industry leaders from the UK and Europe have joined forces to demand urgent action to remove the barriers to touring across the EU.
They are warning political leaders that the current arrangements for UK acts touring the EU and EU acts touring the UK are “not working” and are depriving millions of music fans of the chance to see their favourite acts perform live.
Backed by thousands of people working across the UK and EU music industries, an open letter to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has been organised by the Musicians’ Union, the Association of British Orchestras, LIVE, Pearle*, the Independent Society of Musicians and UK Music.
The open letter – which has more than 550 signatories from organisations and individuals and can be read in full at the link below – outlines how the barriers of soaring costs and red tape means “audiences, artists and venues in the EU and UK are missing out on the enormous benefits which closer cultural exchange would bring”.
The letter concludes: “Our strong collective desire to share, learn and inspire in the creativity from both the EU and the UK is united. As our political leaders, we call on your combined efforts in these important talks to overcome any obstacles and barriers affecting the economic and cultural growth of this important sector, that currently stand in the way of fulfilling this relationship.”
Their call for action to remove the barriers facing those seeking to tour and work across the EU comes ahead of the key EU-UK Summit to be held in London on Monday May 19.
It also comes ahead of the annual celebration of European music this week which culminates with the 2025 Eurovision final on Saturday May 17 in Basel, Switzerland.
Among those supporting the letter – signed by more than 550 individuals and organisations – are Blur drummer, Dave Rowntree, British mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, broadcaster and LIVE chair Steve Lamacq, British conductor Sir Mark Elder and British oboist and conductor Nicholas Daniel, OBE.
Since the UK’s exit from the EU in January 2020, the music industry has faced a number of challenges. These include increased costs and bureaucracy due to requirements for visas, work permits and carnets for touring UK artists, merchandising costs and the need to navigate complex cabotage requirements for trucks and hauliers that support UK tours in the EU.
Sir Elton John is among those who warned of the “brick wall” of extra bureaucracy and paperwork faced by UK acts touring the EU to be torn down. He also joined the campaign to improve post-Brexit arrangements for younger stars and crew.
According to the latest UK Music figures, the UK music industry contributed £7.6 billion in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2023 to the economy. The sector also delivered exports of £4.6 billion and provided employment for 216,000 people.
Pre-Brexit, in 2019, the EU was the UK’s largest live music market, worth four times the size of the US – the UK’s second largest market.
Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive, UK Music, said: “The ability to tour the EU free from barriers and restrictive red tape has been central to the UK music industry’s incredible success for decades. And it is absolutely essential to its future prosperity. This country continues to produce swathes of amazing artists who are being deprived of the opportunity to build crucial new international audiences, while fans are missing out on the chance to discover some of the most exciting talent emerging from the UK.
“The costs of touring the EU are challenging for the entire UK music ecosystem, from artists and musicians to engineers and technicians, but at a grassroots level they are posing an existential threat, with many artists prevented from growing the kind of global fanbase they need to survive. It is vital that these barriers to our nearest neighbours are removed so that our world class talent is free to flourish.”
Naomi Pohl, General Secretary, Musicians’ Union, said: “We believe there is a genuine will from the UK Government to remove barriers to touring in the EU for UK musicians and their crew. It must be a priority in trade negotiations if we are to see a resurgence in touring activity and our members’ businesses thrive. Touring internationally and domestically is a key part of the music business; crucial to musicians’ livelihoods and their relationship with fans. The costs and admin currently faced by our members working in Europe, which are frankly nonsensical in some cases, disproportionately impact grassroots artists with small teams and limited resources. We look forward to a resurgence of touring and revitalised cultural exchange in our closest neighbouring market.”
Jon Collins, CEO, LIVE, said: “The breadth of companies, organisations and individuals that have signed this letter is clear evidence that the importance of resolving touring issues crosses borders, genres and functions. To have leading European promoters line up alongside venue operators, artists, crew and more is testament to the widespread desire to unlock the economic, cultural and societal benefits that will come for all concerned if the EU Commission and UK Government can deliver improved touring arrangements.”
Anita Debaere, Director, Pearle*, said: “We, at Pearle* – Live Performance Europe, support strong cultural partnerships and easier mobility between the EU and UK for musicians, performers and technical workers across the live performance sector. Removing touring barriers is vital to foster artistic collaboration, economic growth and cultural exchange, benefiting professionals of the sector and audiences alike.”
Judith Webster, Association of British Orchestras (ABO) CEO, said: “Our celebrated, world-leading orchestras have used their international renown to take the best of British culture across Europe year on year. The EU remains UK orchestras’ largest foreign market. It is absolutely critical to resolve ongoing touring barriers which will enable UK orchestras to drive growth, create opportunities for future generations and deepen the strategic relationship between the UK and the EU.”
Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), said: “A better arrangement for our touring artists and creative industries is in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. The wide-ranging support for this letter demonstrates that the creative industries are united across borders on this issue. All these years after Brexit, I really hope that the upcoming summit is the beginning of a process which ends with a better deal for musicians, the music sector and the creative industries not just for the UK but also the EU.”
Open letter to António Costa Ursula von der Leyen Sir Keir Starmer (letter only)
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