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1. Incredibly proud to launch @UK_Music's #MusicByNumbers report today. A fascinating report that is relevant for those working in our industry, for policymakers and officials, and for the wider public. https://www.ukmusic.org/assets/general/Music_By_Numbers_2020_Report.pdf
1. Incredibly proud to launch @UK_Music's #MusicByNumbers report today. A fascinating report that is relevant for those working in our industry, for policymakers and officials, and for the wider public. https://www.ukmusic.org/assets/general/Music_By_Numbers_2020_Report.pdf
2. This report underlines how the music industry is a key national asset:
Contributing £5.8bn in GVA for the economy,
Supporting almost 200,000 jobs
Generating £2.9 billion in exports.
Contributing £5.8bn in GVA for the economy,Supporting almost 200,000 jobsGenerating £2.9 billion in exports.
3. Also, benefits are spread across whole of UK. Take music tourism – in 2019, live music events drew a million people to the South East, spending £528m; 1.5m ppl to the North West, spending £477m; & 1.3m to Scotland, spending £453m.
industry= key part of levelling up agenda!
industry= key part of levelling up agenda!
4. And it’s not just an economic contribution - beyond the obvious cultural importance, music brings vast social, educational and mental health benefits 
Plus, the globally recognised UK music scene generates a soft power that few other industries can boast of
Plus, the globally recognised UK music scene generates a soft power that few other industries can boast of
5. But it's a tale of two stories – the growth of 2019 stands in stark contrast to the impact of the pandemic this year. Tens of thousands of jobs are under threat, and up to 85% of live music revenues have been wiped out in 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54966060
6. Important to say that the gvt's CRF fund has made a big difference in temporarily plugging some of the gaps and we are very grateful to @OliverDowden and @RishiSunak. On top of this, the work of hardship funds and organisations like @HelpMusiciansUK has been transformational.
7. What’s happened this year to the music industry and those working in is truly heart-breaking – but we should not dwell on the positives of 2019 or just focus on the negatives of 2020. Our mission is to get our world leading industry back on track. 
So what must we do next?
So what must we do next?
a) Save the live sector.
We need extensions to VAT ticket reduction & business rates relief, gvt backing for a reinsurance scheme, and rollover of 2020 local licence fees for festivals. Most of all, a way to safely do live events without social distancing– eg with rapid testing
We need extensions to VAT ticket reduction & business rates relief, gvt backing for a reinsurance scheme, and rollover of 2020 local licence fees for festivals. Most of all, a way to safely do live events without social distancing– eg with rapid testing
b) Protect the workforce.
We must continue to support our creative talent and all those working in the sector, especially freelancers. It’s also vital that touring musicians are still able to move easily around Europe post-Brexit - we must maintain that huge soft power potential
We must continue to support our creative talent and all those working in the sector, especially freelancers. It’s also vital that touring musicians are still able to move easily around Europe post-Brexit - we must maintain that huge soft power potential
c)Make the UK the global capital of music-making.
We must build a strong copyright framework, strike trade deals to boost British music exports, invest in our talent pipeline to produce the British stars of the future & develop work on fiscal incentives to keep the UK competitive
We must build a strong copyright framework, strike trade deals to boost British music exports, invest in our talent pipeline to produce the British stars of the future & develop work on fiscal incentives to keep the UK competitive
2020 has been a catastrophic year for the music industry. But with the right support, the music industry can be a key part of our country’s post-pandemic economic and cultural revival when the time for recovery comes. That is a shared endeavour we should all work towards. ENDS
