Music tourism: £300m to economy and 3300 jobs

POLITICIANS in Scotland are backing the nation’s stars worried about the future of Scottish culture in the face of Brexit. SNP MSP Tom Arthur, below, will launch the Free Movement for Musicians campaign in Scotland this week. Arthur is to lead a Holyrood debate on Wednesday about the impact of Brexit upon musicians and the wider Scottish music sector. The Renfrewshire South MSP is a former professional musician who played keyboards with a band called Velvet Five. He said that “crashing out” of the EU with no deal could mean a return to expensive and complex visas, making tours unviable for many acts. Arthur claimed that many European musicians and artists may opt not to perform in Scotland. He warned this would deliver a “hammer blow” to festivals such as Celtic Connections and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Arthur said: “Working musicians across the length and breadth of Scotland are rightfully concerned about the disastrous impact Brexit could have on the Scottish music sector. Scottish musicians have been able to enjoy the opportunity of easy access to a market of 500 million people and the freedom to work in 27 other countries.

“Crashing out of the EU with no deal could mean a return to expensive and complex visas, making European tours unviable for all but the biggest of acts, which would equally impact European musicians wanting to perform in Scotland.

“In the year before the EU referendum, music festivals and live concerts brought 928,000 music tourists to Scotland, generating £295 million for the local economy and helping to sustain 3,230 full-time jobs. All of this is put at risk by Brexit.

“The weak pound has already hit both Celtic Connections and the Edinburgh International Festival. Leaving the EU without securing the status of EU nationals and freedom of movement would be a hammer blow.”