Culture Minister Ian Murray has pledged the UK government's full commitment to easing barriers for musicians touring Europe after Brexit. The promise came at the launch of the Cultural Exchange Coalition in Brussels on March 24. Industry leaders welcome the move but call for urgent action amid worsening impacts on UK artists.
UK artists have faced severe challenges touring Europe since Brexit, with a 75% drop in performances there, according to a 2024 Musicians’ Union report. The study found 79% unable to replace lost EU work, and most said European tours are no longer financially viable. A recent UK Music analysis shows the situation deteriorating, with growth in bookings down more than half from 2023 despite high overall sector income. Bookings for UK acts at EU festivals have fallen nearly a third, hurting songwriters' royalties and the broader live music ecosystem, including crew and venues. Increased costs, red tape on carnets and borders, and the 90/180-day Schengen rule have compounded mental health strains and job losses, as seen in crew issues during Adele's Germany residency and emerging band Witch Fever's tax troubles on tour. Wolf Alice's Joff Oddie warned Parliament that without support, music risks becoming a 'middle and upper class sport.' Featured Artists Coalition CEO David Martin noted the UK's global music market share has halved in the last decade, with British artists dropping from charts and festivals. He urged immediate government intervention to prevent losing the UK's leadership in music. At the Cultural Exchange Coalition launch, Ian Murray stated there is 'real political will' from both UK and EU sides to resolve issues quickly, fulfilling commitments from the EU-UK Summit and Cultural Compass. He acknowledged prohibitive costs threaten the entire industry. UK Music's Tom Kiehl praised the pledge but stressed the need for strengthened cultural exchange. Secretary of State Lisa Nandy expressed confidence in a 2026 breakthrough, citing support from EU musicians' unions. MEP Hannes Heide emphasized solutions must cover the full ecosystem, from guitarists to truck drivers. Carry On Touring's Tim Brennan, whose petition gathered nearly 300,000 signatures, called for reciprocal arrangements bypassing key rules. Festival director Thomas Heher welcomed the tone shift but warned core problems persist without targeted exemptions.