UK Music Chief Executive has warned that a Government-backed insurance
scheme is the “final piece of the jigsaw" needed to help save
live music events.
The head of the collective voice of the UK Music industry
welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confirmation that mass
live music events will be able to proceed without social
distancing from July 19.
However, he warned that without a badly needed Government-backed
insurance scheme to fix a clear "market failure", some festival
and concert organisers faced financial ruin if Covid-19
restrictions were reimposed later this year.
His warning came amid mounting pressure for the Government to
extend the insurance cover it has provided to the film and TV
sector to the UK music industry, which supports 200,000 jobs and
has contributed £5.8 billion to the economy pre-Covid-19.
UK Music Chief Executive said:
“I’m delighted that Government has confirmed live music events
can go ahead from July 19 without the need for social distancing
– a welcome decision for millions of fans and for the hundreds of
thousands of musicians and support crew whose jobs depend on live
activity.
“Our industry has worked incredibly hard to make venues and
festival sites as safe as possible and reduce the transmission
risk at live events. Huge credit is due to countless people
across the sector for the brilliant work they have done towards
this.
“However, there is one final piece of the jigsaw that we
absolutely need in place to ensure the return of live music is
permanent and not just for a few brief weeks of summer: action to
resolve the market failure on events insurance.
“The critical need for a government-backed insurance scheme has
been repeatedly made clear by industry and by and the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select
Committee. While welcome, the confirmation that restrictions will
be lifted from July 19 does not make this problem go away.
“Suggestions of restrictions being reintroduced in autumn or
winter mean organisers won't have confidence to plan events
beyond summer. So, it’s vital we get a government-backed
insurance scheme to enable organisers to plan ahead without risk
of financial ruin if restrictions reimposed.
“The insurance scheme Government introduced for the film and TV
industry has been hugely successful and has saved countless jobs
and businesses. We now need the same for the live events sector,
otherwise we risk losing some festivals and music events
forever.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Link to Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
report:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/155563/report-blames-government-inaction-over-insurance-as-festivals-face-another-lost-summer/
