Half of British musicians lost EU work since Brexit, report finds

According to a report from European Movement UK, since 2021, more than 25% of British musicians have completely lost their EU work, with almost half reporting a decrease in job opportunities. Tour revenues have plummeted by 45%, and 59% of musicians believe that touring in Europe is no longer feasible. Orchestras can incur customs document costs of up to £5,000 per tour. UK artists now navigate various visa regulations in each EU country, face work permit challenges, and must adhere to the Schengen 90-day rule. The report highlights the significant impact of losing Creative Europe funding, which allocated €111m to 376 UK organizations from 2014 to 2020. Tom Kiehl, CEO of UK Music, emphasized that these issues reflect a broader crisis in the creative economy, jeopardizing the £8bn music industry and 220,000 jobs. Mig Schallache, proprietor of The Louisiana in Bristol, remarked on the decline of European artists coming to the UK. The report advocates for the elimination of mobility barriers to safeguard the sector's future.