Entertainers should get a basic income – Kennedy

SINGER Brian Kennedy has said artists in Ireland should be supported by the Government with a universal basic income.

The pandemic has halted multiple industries and one of those badly hit is the arts.

Kennedy has been keeping himself busy by creating new music at home following his cancer all-clear but the singer knows not everyone can do the same.

He spoke on Newstalk yesterday of the urgent need to support those in the entertainment business to allow ‘artistic people to focus on the arts instead of where their next meal is coming from’.

‘For someone like me, it’s a great help,’ he said.

The singer continued: ‘Thank God I had a little bit of savings and have been able to do Facebook Lives [online music events].

‘I think on one hand it will decimate some people, [such as] young emerging artists.

‘I’m dying to see the art that will come out in this time from younger artists and see what they’re going to write about, what hunger it has given them as an artist to go, “You know what, I’m not going to let this destroy – in fact I’m going to come back stronger”.’

Kennedy went on to say that every artist should be considered for a universal basic income and perhaps the Government should consider introducing a tier system. Giving wedding bands as an example, the musician explained that those bands can be booked up for a whole year whereas for a selfemployed artist such as himself it can be quite difficult to give a projection. ‘It comes and goes – maybe a wedFinancial supports: Brian Kennedy ding band has a more solid itinerary,’ he said.

He believes a tier system would be more equitable.

When asked what level of income artists should receive under such a plan, he didn’t specify but said it should depend on their level of work. Outlining that gig work can be ‘feast or famine’, he said a ‘means-tested’ system would be a ‘very good idea’.

‘You try and give a projection as to what you earned possibly before the pandemic, what you might have been earning in a year,’ he said. ‘Then break that down into a weekly or monthly amount because, like most people, we all have mortgages and car loans and things like that.’

The music industry has been devastated by the pandemic, with gigs rescheduled and delayed as Ireland has gone in and out of lockdown.