Pop superstars: Don’t let our plea to save industry fall on deaf ears
THE Rolling Stones, Sir Rod Stewart, Coldplay and Rita Ora are among stars calling on the Government to help the crippled live music industry.
More than 1,500 artists have signed a joint letter warning the future is bleak for hundreds of thousands of workers in the sector due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Among the big names backing the plea are Ed Sheeran, Sir Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Annie Lennox, Sam Smith, Liam Gallagher, Iron Maiden and Little Mix.
The stars have signed a letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden appealing for support.
It comes during what would have been the start of this summer’s live music season.
Festivals at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds have all been cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.
The letter warns the lockdown is having a devastating impact on the £4.5billion live music sector and its 210,000 jobs.
Bleak
As more industries begin to reopen this weekend, live music concerts are still banned because of concerns over social distancing.
The letter states: “With no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from Government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak.
“Until these businesses can operate again Government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this industry.”
The letter calls for a “comprehensive business and employment support package” and access to finance, plus full VAT exemption on ticket sales.
To coincide with the letter, hundreds of artists will today begin posting films and photos of their last live gig under the banner #LetTheMusicPlay.
Fans will also be encouraged to post about the last gig they went to in a mass show of support for the UK’s live music industry during the shutdown.