Fudge.

A study conducted by BuzzAngle Music, a music analytics firm, found that 99% of all streamed music in 2017 belonged to the top 10% of artists. Daniel Sanchez of Digital Music News points out that this ultimately means the remaining 90% is largely made up of independent artists, who have to generate their revenue from a measly 1% of the streaming market. Many of these artists must therefore rely on other revenue streams such as merchandise and ticket sales for live events.

So, you are an independent artist with negligible recorded music royalty income, but a strong, loyal, yet niche fanbase who's support provides you with the income you need to survive. However, this fanbase is situated in Czechia. PM Boris Johnson's austere relent to implement Brexit with or without a trade deal might be a slight cause for concern to say the very least. The near, inexplicable future could pose any amount of expenses, from work visas, to lengthy and costly carnets for each new EU member state border. And be sure the French independent artist you passed at the UK border is experiencing all the same difficulties, albeit with only one border to worry about. 

Further still, if we leave the EU with no deal then the merchandise distributed to your fans in Prague will incur even more costs when subject to WTO tariffs, taxing anything up to 80% of merchandise value, according to Ron Taylor of the LSE Brexit blog. However of course, this is yet to be scheduled with the WTO. The home office is working to, as outlined in the Brexit White Paper, preserve "frictionless trade" for the majority of UK goods trade, and provide prospective security of post-Brexit trade for agriculture, fishing, food and medicine. Promise of "short-term business visas", for those who are eligible, is also encouraging for independent musicians looking for EU work. However, there is still significant concern, voiced by organisations such as UK Music and the Musician's Union, as to the lack of any specific provisions set out to protect the interests of independent UK music. How searing an inimical trade deal could be for the majority of musicians in the UK and EU, who trade in an already cutthroat industry, notorious for unfavourable financial income.

There aren't two sides to an 'argument' here per se, instead there seems to be a divide in motive and deemed exigency between the music industry and government officials, a subject that will surely manifest in the imminent future.

Written by Angus Bates (Cover image created by Sophie Light of Slight Design)