Is There Still A Future For Music Festivals?
Millions in the UK anxiously await the answer for one of the most nerve wracking questions asked throughout the pandemic: will the festival scene survive?
The level of uncertainty is causing unrest within the sector, and there are fears that a lot of venues may never be able to reopen their doors again. We are now ‘rapidly approaching the determination point’, according to the Association of Independent Festivals.
It is a hard pill to swallow as the live music industry is such a diverse community that has touched millions of lives and has been so successful since it’s emergence.
The industry was even named an ‘economic powerhouse’ by UK Music in their 2019 ‘Music by Numbers’ report, with it ‘breaking the £1 billion barrier’.
But now the sector’s revenues have dropped by 90% and this years organisers are facing “absolutely dire straits” if the festival season is called off again this year, according to Anna Wade of Boomtown Fair in Winchester.
Organisers and officials are trying to stay positive, with chief executive of UK Music Jamie Njoku-Goodwin claiming that there is ‘an endpoint in sight’. However, this depends on the government taking action to boost the confidence of the industry.
So, what will it take this year for the festival season to go ahead?
Ultimately the future of music festivals and live music performances, especially smaller events, almost completely relies on the government backing the industry by introducing COVID-19 cancellation insurance.
A recent report by UK Music said that it is confident that it could manage the health risks of the virus if the government would release a date that the industry could prepare for, but the implementation of cancellation insurance policies would be vital for the season to go ahead.
As it stands, even if the government did release a date that organisers could work towards, festivals and events would most likely not be able to proceed with planning as they would financially depend on the cancellation insurance. If the government had to take a u-turn on their opening at the last minute, the industry would not be financially stable enough to handle it.
UK Music have now shared their report ‘Let the Music Play: Save Our Summer 2021’ which outlines a clear strategy to get the festival scene up and running again for the summer. It also calls for targeted financial support and an extension to the VAT rate reduction on tickets.
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has made it clear that the industry would not and should not have to struggle this year, as the government has openly speculated the return to normal by spring due to distribution of the vaccine on a national scale.
Therefore if cancellation insurance policies are backed by the government, this festival season could make a comeback.
In my opinion the government has a duty to support the live music industry as they do any other, so it is only fair that they acknowledge the pleas of the report and consider the introduction of insurance as they have implemented it in other sectors like the film and TV industry.
What will happen if the government ignore the industry’s calls for support?
At this point the industry is beginning to collapse as effectively the sector has not been able to work since March in the UK due to social distancing rules and other lockdown restrictions. It would also be the last industry to open back up once the restrictions ease due to the large crowds that festivals attract.
There are calls for the government to follow in the footsteps of Australia and Germany as they have taken action to help secure the world leading industry.
Co-founder of Manchester’s Parklife festival Sacha Lord raises fears as he warns that if the government do not change their stance towards the industry, skilled workers will permanently transfer to other industries and small festivals would drop away.
With music festivals supporting 85,000 jobs, it is crucial that the government understand the damage that another cancelled season would cause. It is estimated that 30–50% of the live music industry’s workforce are currently facing unemployment, as the ‘Let the Music Play’ report states. This would be a “catastrophic loss of skills”.
The report urges action as it predicts that there are “59% redundancies expected across the sector without further support”.
Accompanying UK Music’s plan for future success in it’s newest report is a letter addressed to culture secretary Oliver Dowden. The signatures at the bottom of this appeal include big names in the industry such as Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne and Rita Ora.
The unity of the community in this matter really is conveyed by the huge list of names that are all calling for the government’s support. As stated in the letter, “the sector doesn’t want to ask for government help” but it is no secret now that “government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies, and the end of this great world-leading industry”.
On 5th January festival organisers and associations made their pleas to the House of Commons culture select committee as they carry out their inquiry into the viability of this summer's events.
It is hoped that this inquiry will help the government acknowledge and appreciate the dismal situation the live music industry has been left to fend for itself in, and push them to take action.
If you would like to help push for government action on this matter, it is advised in UK Music’s report that you support ‘Let the Music Play’ by writing to your local MP about your concerns for the future of the live music industry.
You can also support the campaign by using #LetTheMusicPlay on social media.
