Fudge.

italics textUncertainty is the salient impression held by the UK music industry and its representatives at the forefront of the Brexit debate, with UK Music's Michael Dugher stating they are "deeply worried that our principle concerns about the impact of Brexit remain unaddressed" in his letter to the Prime Minister in 2018. These principles include the freedom of movement of musicians, equipment and merchandise into the EU, and the framework of copyright legislation under independent UK Law.

Due to "divided" proposals for future UK/EU relations, Boris Johnson has said that if a mutual trade agreement can't be reached with the EU at June's "high level" meeting then the UK will trade under WTO rules, as reported by Benjamin Fox of Euractiv. At which point artists will have to pay for a Carnet every time they cross an EU country's border. These are essentially work permits that cover "any equipment and merchandise necessary to fulfil your job obligations" (Ian Smith of UK E Arts Work) and allow you to "pass duty free and import tax free into a carnet country for up to one year", according to ATA Carnet specialists, Boomerang Carnet. On top of existing touring expenses, "costly bureaucracy will make touring simply unviable for many artists."  which Dugher follows with: "We desperately need a reciprocal system that supports temporary short-term permission and exemptions for musicians and crews" both leaving and entering the UK/EU. 

The Musicians' Union is leading a campaign "calling on Government and Parliament to introduce a European Union (EU) touring visa for musicians working in the EU post-Brexit." It will allow working musicians freedom of passage throughout all EU member states. In response to the MU's movements, Conservative MP Nigel Adams (Minister of State for Sport, Media & Creative Industries) stated during an MP debate: “Touring is absolutely the lifeblood of the industry… It’s absolutely essential that free movement for artists is protected post-2020.” MP Robin Walker also addressed concerns in his response to Dugher on behalf of the PM, suggesting that, as outlined in their Brexit White Paper, they will endeavour to secure a "specific co-operative accord" with the EU to construct "specific provision for mobility" for artists both sides of the border. They are pursuing a partnership agreement with European partners that they "firmly believe will be in the best interests of both the UK and the EU." 

So it seems, despite clear precedent in the form of, for example, EU Blue Cards and Cultural Co-operation Protocols with other third countries, an ideal trade agreement for the UK's touring musicians will remain undefined until at least June. 

Written by Angus Bates (Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Econometrics)