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Okay, so Radio 5 didn't put me on air. But here's what I would have said. @WeAreTheMU @ukMPG @FeaturedArtists
We are 6 months deep now, but we need to understand that the #musicindustry contributes significantly towards the UK economy: in 2018 it contributed £5.2 BILLION.
We are 6 months deep now, but we need to understand that the #musicindustry contributes significantly towards the UK economy: in 2018 it contributed £5.2 BILLION.
Which, when you compare it to the £1.5 Billion the government offered in the July package (which was grants AND loans, btw - OH HELLO MORE DEBT) to the ENTIRE arts and heritage sector, is shocking. Because £1.5 billion is a lot of money, BUT not even 1/3 of what...
the music industry alone can make in 1 year. And that £1.5 billion has to be shared between all the arts & heritage sectors. So: museums and conservation, dance, theatre, film, spoken word, visual arts, publishing, television AND music. Just categories off the top of my head.
But let's use them as an example, for now. If the July package was split evenly (which it wouldn't be, but stay with me) between those 9 disciplines, that would mean about £174 million would be made available to music. Still sounds like a lot of money. But remember...
...that's £174 million to cover a £5.2 BILLION industry. £5.2 billion is 30 times bigger than £174 million. Which would mean the government was offering the music industry TO SURVIVE less than 4% of what it made for the UK IN A YEAR.
Yes, that is indeed a red flag
Read on
Yes, that is indeed a red flag
Read on
Let's talk about the SEISS (Self Employed Income Support Scheme), which allows you to claim money if you make a profit on your business. The music industry is made up of a tremendous number of freelancers, and many of us just about break even on our business. So...
SEISS doesn't help us. The government knows this is a problem (hence many MPs and press asking the Chancellor about it & his artfully ducking the questions after both his House of Commons address and press conference today) but doesn't want to do anything about it. Hence...
The government knows this is a problem (hence many MPs and press asking the Chancellor about it & his artfully ducking the questions after both his House of Commons address and press conference today) but doesn't want to do anything about it. Hence...
the announcement today that SEISS will continue to be run in a "similar" way. Meaning: it will continue to benefit the same people who qualified for it before, and those who are falling through the cracks will continue to do so. And so now we come to...
And so now we come to...
Universal Credit MIGHT help, but only if you don't have any savings left and even then it might barely be enough to cover your rent. Note: I was lucky to get Universal Credit, but this was because when the pandemic struck I happened to be rounding off...
Note: I was lucky to get Universal Credit, but this was because when the pandemic struck I happened to be rounding off...
an EP release campaign cycle. Like many independent artists, I had thrown all my time, money and energy into the release and was looking at a healthy string of tour dates to help replenish the depleted funds. But COVID took the tour dates, 
so I was left with nothing. But...
so I was left with nothing. But...
I DID get UC because of it. Grateful as I am, it still strikes me as awful that you have to be at the very bottom of the pit to get help, and even then there is no guarantee. So where does that leave us? ...
So where does that leave us? ...
With 3 million people who fall through the cracks. Who the government is encouraging to get loans, and get into debt that they could be tied to for up to ten years. With 34% of musicians seriously considering giving up their precious careers in order to survive...
... and another 37% unsure. That's 71%, gang.
With 88% of musicians not feeling supported by the government.
With most studios receiving no grants or rates despite voluntarily closing during lockdown to protect the public.
If we don't get help soon, at least...
With 88% of musicians not feeling supported by the government. With most studios receiving no grants or rates despite voluntarily closing during lockdown to protect the public. If we don't get help soon, at least...
a THIRD of the industry - this £5.2 billion industry - will be gone. This is a DISASTER. Today the Chancellor talked about ‘viable jobs’ like they were a monolith, with a skew towards larger & more prosperous businesses, invalidating those who fell outside of those businesses
& continuing to reinforce a culture of invalidation towards music industry workers. When he was picked up on that wording in the press, the Chancellor backtracked by claiming that it wasn’t for him to say - but the trouble is, by inference, he already has...
By failing to properly address this question of those who fall through the cracks of current government schemes, he invalidates OUR jobs. But they are REAL jobs. They brought in £5.2 billion, after all. It's convenient to treat music like it’s a luxury or a commodity, but...
you can guarantee most people are using music EVERY DAY. They are streaming on Spotify, listening to the radio, buying vinyl, watching a movie with a SOUNDTRACK, thinking about whether they can afford Glastonbury tickets next year. 
NEWSFLASH... Guess what?
NEWSFLASH... Guess what?
That’s us. That’s the music industry. We make those things happen. Don't let us go. 
Head on over here to write to your MP via @WeAreTheMU or tweet the Chancellor at @RishiSunak to tell him this isn't enough. https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1309205970707312640?s=20
Head on over here
to write to your MP via @WeAreTheMU or tweet the Chancellor at @RishiSunak to tell him this isn't enough. https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1309205970707312640?s=20
Additionally, #Music #Marketing peeps, @sammyandrews is being wonderful over here - check it out: https://twitter.com/sammyandrews/status/1309429186721968128?s=20
