Brexit and touring in the EU: A Simple Explainer

The government has come under criticism this week for reportedly rejecting a deal with the European Union which would have seen musicians permitted visa-free touring, potentially meaning a lot of additional expense and hassle for performers looking to take their work around the continent.

Here's what we know so far. 

• Free movement of people between the UK and EU ended on 1st January with Britain's withdrawal from the European Union officially coming into effect. Of course, travel is still possible, but not in the same fashion as was allowed previously. Musicians and their technical crews face new rules, additional costs and extensive paperwork, especially if moving between countries. 

• It was initially reported by The Independent that Brussels was the culprit for the breakdown in negotiations for easy touring. However, since then, an 'EU source' has disputed this claim, arguing instead that the UK is responsible for the failure to reach an agreement, reportedly rejecting the offer of 90 days of visa-free travel for musicians from the EU. 

• Regardless of which side is to blame, the bottom line is that artists face the very real possibility of European touring no longer being a viable option. The situation has drawn widespread criticism and anger from all corners of the music industry, as yet again, it appears as though music and the arts, and those whose livelihoods depend on their continued success, are considered afterthoughts by the government. 

• High-profile figures from the world of music have been highly critical, with some calling on the government to provide clarity on the situation and offer some kind of explanation as to why the industry has been sidelined yet again. Radiohead's Thom Yorke labelled the government as 'spineless'. Horace Trubridge, the general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, called for the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, to explain the situation, calling it 'unbelievable'. 

• Some commentators have suggested that the government's rejection of a tour-visa might be politically motivated. Music has traditionally been one of the UK's most celebrated exports, both on the continent and beyond. To restrict access to this would be a huge blow for European music fans, cities and venues who rely on UK acts being able to perform for them. Labour has said that if the decision has been made to score political points, 'music fans will not forgive them'. 

• Failure to secure a new arrangement with the EU could rule out or significantly curtail EU touring. On top of inevitable COVID-19 restrictions facing travelling musicians, the outlook for the industry, particularly in the UK, continues to look bleak.

• "The music industry contributes an estimated £6bn to the UK economy," said Laura Darling, a cellist due to tour in major European cities in the summer with her orchestra. "It's not an insignificant contribution. Whilst I appreciate that musicians aren't working on the front line of this health crisis we're facing, and perhaps aren't as prominent in people's thoughts as we might otherwise be, I feel as though we are being taken completely for granted. It wouldn't surprise me, as long as the situation for musicians continues to deteriorate, if people start to turn away from the industry altogether. It's desperately, desperately sad."