The Incorporated Society Of Musicians (ISM) has made a series of recommendations to Government after publishing its fourth report into the effects of Brexit on music.
The research, titled Impact of Brexit on Musicians, was conducted in February and reveals the concerns of more than 2,000 musicians in areas such as future work, mobility and visas, transportation, health and social security.
Among its key conclusions, the report calls for freedom of movement for musicians to be protected, or a two-year working visa to be introduced.
Deborah Annetts, CEO of ISM, said: "Impact of Brexit on Musicians demonstrates how much the music workforce depends on EU27/EEA countries for professional work, and reveals a profession who are deeply concerned about the future as the UK prepares to leave the EU.
"Musicians’ livelihoods depend on the ability to travel easily and cheaply around multiple countries for work in a short period of time. If freedom of movement is to end, the Government must ensure that free movement rights are maintained for musicians, or introduce a two-year multi-entry visa for British musicians working in the EU27 – which 95% of respondents preferred over the Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE). PPE is not the answer."
If freedom of movement is to end, the Government must ensure that free movement rights are maintained for musicians, or to introduce a two-year multi-entry visa for British musicians
Deborah Annetts
ISM
Almost 50% of respondents identified an impact on their professional work since the EU referendum result in 2016 – 95% of whom said it was negative, while 63% cited difficulty in securing future work in EU27/EEA countries as the biggest issue they face due to Brexit. More than 1 in 10 respondents reported that offers of work have been withdrawn or cancelled, with Brexit given as a reason.
"This report also demonstrates how much the music workforce relies on UK-EU mechanisms – for example, the EHIC scheme and A1 certificate - to support and enable them to work in the EU27/EEA," added Annetts.
"At a time of great uncertainty, musicians need to know their jobs in EU27/EEA will be secure once the UK leaves the EU. Therefore we call for the Government to take action, using the recommendations outlined in this report, to protect musicians’ livelihood and the all important music and wider creative industries."
Lord Black of Brentwood endorsed the ISM’s report, adding: "Music is an essential part of our national identity, and can play an increasingly important role in the UK’s soft power. If and when the UK leaves the EU, it is our prosperous music industry (now valued at £4.5bn a year to the economy), our musical heritage, and our worldwide reputation for musical excellence which must inevitably be one of the most secure engines for prosperity in post Brexit Britain. If musicians cannot travel easily to the EU27, this will all be put at risk.
"This new report from the ISM clearly demonstrates the reliance musicians place on freedom of movement to work and tour in the EU27 at short notice, and I echo their call for a multi-entry visa."
To help assist musicians, ISM will release a Brexit package as part of membership.
