Brexit and the Music Industry

How will music industry get effected by Brexit?

Author: Nino Kokashvili

A referendum - a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take part - was held on Thursday 23 June, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Leave won by 52% to 48%. The referendum turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting. It was the highest turnout in a UK-wide vote since the 1992 general election.

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While overriding debate around the EU referendum has mostly focused on big narratives of immigration, sovereignty and the economy, Brexit could also cause subtle but potentially seismic changes to the things that people in the UK currently take for granted.  Every British industry is likely to feel the ramifications of a Leave vote, and the music industry is no different.  The music industry is still an industry and musicians are workers too. 

The UK’s music industry is one of the largest and most influential in Europe. According to the BPI, the trade body that represents much of the UK’s recorded music, one in four albums sold in Europe over the last year was by a British artist, while more than half of the UK’s labels see at least a quarter of their sales come from Europe.

So what will happen to the music business after Brexit? Nobody really knows. It may not exactly cause a shock-wave, but there are several possible ways in which things could change. Changes may not be crucial for big bands, but small newly emerged musicians might get highly effected.

Touring in EU will get difficult

Touring in Europe for UK bands is very easy and cheap nowadays. Europe is a  great audience, plus, no visa or special permit is needed and flights between UK and any European city is relatively cheap. Small and in progress bands are highly motivated to perform in EU. Visas will  raise costs for both music fans who travel to see their favorite artists perform, and for the music acts who travel as part of a tour to perform. Also, promoters who will need to take additional paper work, will less desire to give chances to young UK bands. Widely spread practice today, taking a van and touring around Europe, will get harder for British musicians.

Vinyl will get expansive

Vinyl and CDs are physical, tangible products, that like any other product will get effected by the events followed Brexit. The majority of UK-based labels press their records in European countries, thus manufacturing cost will probably rise as currently UK doesn't pay import taxes, but after withdrawal from EU that will change. 

UK will loose EU fundings

It is well known fact that EU regularly funds art in UK, especially, music industry and acts. Funds are evaluated as more than 1 billion £ and UK bands are considered as one of the most successful for receiving them. After Brexit this tendency will also change. 

There are other possible consequences of Brexit fot UK music industry, such as copyright rules, that are not obvious how to be treated. More complicated laws and more expensive travel seems probable. More complicated and expensive administration is likely too. Big bands like Archive and Radiohead, won't be effected, but people who enjoy UK music in general and look forward to new bands, that are young and fresh, still might have something to worry about. Hopefully, art and especially music will find its way through Europe and who knows, difficulties might even be more motivational for young artists.

       “Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” 

                                                                    Frank Zappa