UK Music represents the collective interests of all sectors of the Music Business and we read their Save Our Summer report so you don’t have to.
Here are five things we learned about what the music industry needs in order for it to open back up in Summer 2021…
There are routes back: test, test, test.
Perhaps the fastest way back to the mosh pit will be rapid testing. There are hopes the ‘Moonshot’ testing program, which returns results within 10-30 minutes, could eventually bring events back to full capacity. Rapid testing should mitigate the risk of a Covid outbreak at a live event by returning immediate results, ensuring anyone Covid positive is not in attendance. Although, it’s not that easy. To test the program’s validity, it requires ‘proof of concept’, and test pilots. Perhaps initially at smaller events, with social distancing. It is a big ask to have this ready on a large scale for the 2021 festival season.
Improved guidance and ventilation: the new kids on the block.
UK Music claims they are aiming to deliver a ‘clear guidance protocol’ in collaboration with the government. Social distancing measures, like we saw last summer, may make a comeback. Supporting the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ approach, it has been suggested that ventilation and pathogen reduction systems could be utilised at venues across the country. This could help reduce the spread of infectious disease as music events during the pandemic – and beyond. Believe it, or not, infectious disease is always a top priority of an event planner when it comes to audience safety – and now it has never been more important. Currently, there is no incentive to invest until the new tech is validated by the British government.
It’s the million-dollar question – when will the restrictions be lifted?
A lot more goes into hosting live events than putting up a stage in a field. It requires months and sometimes years of planning. Without an opening date, there isn’t a timeline for planning. Of course – you could assume a date – but if you pay the specialists to assist in the planning of a festival that is either restricted or cancelled, it’s impossible to recoup the losses.
Given that insurance companies are no longer covering losses for Covid-related cancellations. A cancelled festival at the last hurdle could be the final nail in the coffin. Promoters are used to taking risks, but this time, the risk outweighs the reward, and perhaps delaying the return of large-scale events until the following year is the more likely scenario.
The Bottom Line
The Music Industry contributes £4.7billion to the UK’s economy every year, and analysis shows for every £10 spent on a ticket to see live music, £17 goes back into the local community. It is widely accepted that music, events, and music therapy promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden was beaming when he announced the cultural recovery fund – which the business welcomed with open arms. The £1.57billion announced was spread over wider creative industries, rather than targeted to specific sectors. It is reported that creative industries as a whole have been hemorrhaging £1.4billion per week during the pandemic. The industry’s supply chain relies on cash trickling down from the artists. With 72% of music industry workers being self-employed, crucial gaps in financial support must be closed.
The Big One: Will we get to go to festivals in 2021?
It’s bleak. The conversation of large-scale music events in 2021 comes secondary to the existential threat posed to the industry. UK Music is very clear when they say that the choices are to give it targeted financing – or lose it altogether. This will go beyond reopening, as many venues were on the brink before the pandemic; without targeted support, many venues may be forced to close. Without significant government support, the number of skilled workers employed by the music industry will be slashed – 60% of jobs are under threat.
All is not lost though. Ticket sales are exceeding expectations, and refund requests remain low. If the government and industry can work closely to provide clear guidance and measures, and of course deliver on the vaccine roll-out plan. The consumer is ready – and yes – it is likely music will be back in some capacity.
Will 100,000 people be singing along to ‘Hey Jude’ in a muddy field in Somerset in June 2021? We’re not sure. But, even if larger events are out of the question, there’s still hope that we might – just might – be able to enjoy some sort of festival season if the proper support is provided by the British Government.