Members of Parliament have called on the government to collaborate with the EU and its member states to alleviate the significant obstacles facing British artists performing in Europe.
The report, published Monday, June 15, by the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, details the escalating financial hardships encountered by artists in the post-Brexit landscape.
These findings follow an evidence session held as part of the “State of Play” inquiry, where industry representatives testified on the current climate. Musician Kate Nash revealed that while European tours were previously profitable, her most recent series of EU dates resulted in losses exceeding £25,000.
The committee highlighted that emerging artists and those from working-class backgrounds are particularly vulnerable. This echoes warnings from 2022, when industry leaders cautioned that Brexit complications were “strangling the next generation of UK talent in the cradle.”
To address these issues, the report recommends that the UK re-engage with the Creative Europe cultural cooperation program and its proposed successor, AgoraEU, to restore essential travel funding for artists.
Furthermore, the committee advised that negotiations be initiated to resolve customs barriers, simplify short-term touring regulations, and clarify rules regarding the transport of goods within a single country by foreign-based operators.
CMS Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage noted that British performers are facing a “whole range of new hoops” when touring the EU. She emphasized that the impact extends beyond established stars to “the stars of tomorrow,” who are being denied career-defining opportunities.
Dinenage clarified that these proposals are not an attempt to renegotiate Brexit, but rather a effort to “address the issues that weren’t covered off in the first place and find new ways to support our touring artists.” She added that because European audiences maintain a strong demand for British talent, it is in the interest of both parties to find a resolution.
Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive of UK Music, remarked that the decade following the EU referendum has been defined by uncertainty and a trade deal that “totally forgot the needs of touring musicians, performers and cultural workers.” He praised the CMS Committee for reinforcing the importance of EU touring and urged the government to uphold its manifesto commitments to resolve the crisis.
The financial strain was further illustrated by Manchester band Witch Fever, who reported being left “broke” after a two-month European support tour. Bassist Alex Thompson explained that their profits were trapped in withholding taxes across various European territories, describing the situation as a “double tax” issue resulting from Brexit.
Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski recently characterized Brexit as a “catastrophe” for the arts and economy, suggesting the UK should rejoin a customs union in the short term and the EU in the long term.
The current Labour government has recently focused on other music industry issues, including banning inflated ticket touting, revising AI and copyright policies, and pledging to make the £1 ticket levy for grassroots music mandatory if participation targets are not met.
