25:12:2020: Reacting to news of a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU, UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“News of a deal is welcome and has removed some of the uncertainty facing the music industry. However, there are still many questions about the future arrangements for those working in our industry, in particular what it means for touring.
“The Prime Minister has promised there will be no non-tariff barriers, so it is vital that Government delivers on this promise and ensures there are no barriers to British musicians working and touring through Europe. We will be seeking urgent reassurances on this from Government.
“We are eager to take advantages of the opportunities this deal will bring, and the Prime Minister’s proposal to set new frameworks for the sectors in which the UK leads the world is particularly exciting. The UK is one of the only countries in the world that is a net exporter of music, and so we look forward to working with government to develop those frameworks, especially in the area of copyright protection.
“The UK music industry is a key national asset that contributes billions of pounds to the economy, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and has helped Britain punch above its weight internationally for decades. The music industry can play an important role in Britain’s global success over the coming years, and we hope this agreement can be a solid foundation for that.”
Overseas Touring:
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“The Government now needs to ensure the ability of our workforce to move freely around Europe at a time when we are continuing to battle the impact of Covid-19.
“There is a real risk that British musicians will not be able to bear the cost of extra bureaucracy and delays which would put some tours at risk.
“If musicians and creators from overseas face barriers and costs getting into the UK, audiences here could miss out on seeing some of their favourite acts.”
Exports
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“Supporting and growing the UK music industry is now more important than ever following our departure from the EU.
“New free trade agreements present a chance to develop our exports. There will be new opportunities to strike exciting partnerships to grow UK music in overseas markets.
“The Government should focus on overcoming market access issues, whether that is impediments to copyright licensing or ensuring performers can move across borders without unnecessary bureaucracy.
“Government funding for export support should continue and be extended as we seek to grow the total export revenue of our music industry from a record high of £2.9 billion in 2019.
Copyright
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“We strongly welcome the Prime Minister’s proposal to set new frameworks for the sectors in which the UK leads the world.
“Government should use this opportunity to build the strongest copyright framework in the world and, equally importantly, uphold strong copyright protection in all future trade agreements.
“By doing so the UK could become a cultural hub and act as the global destination to perform, record and do business.
“All this will help further boost the £5.8 billion the UK music industry contributed to the economy in 2019.”
https://www.ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-reacts-to-post-brexit-trade-deal
