UK bands and artists may find it harder to tour Europe after Britain leaves the EU for good.

According to the BBC, the Creative Industries Federation has said that British artists may have to spend more time and money on items like visas for tours if freedom of movement rules are tightened in post-Brexit Europe.

Federation founder Sir John Sorrell said the creative sector is “a key driver of wealth and global success” for the UK. “To imperil that would be to imperil our wider economy. That is why we need to be at the heart of the new government’s industrial strategy and negotiating priorities in coming months.”

The federation also said:

• It may become harder for UK institutions to attract and employ European staff
• Some funding for culture, currently provided by the EU, may disappear
• New export tariffs and other trade barriers could be “a particular challenge” given the popularity of British culture abroad
• The loss of EU copyright laws and deals could leave UK creators exposed to piracy and “at a competitive disadvantage”
• The UK might not have its turn hosting the European Capital of Culture 2023

Before the result meant that Britain was going to leave the EU, Major Lazer’s production manager, Joel Stanley told IQ magazine back in March: “I think the biggest thing for me as a production manager would be the addition of a carnet [customs documents which allow the tax-free temporary importation of equipment] for every show outside the UK. Currently we only ever have to show proof of ownership with the bond and have it stamped in and out if we go outside of the EU – mainly Switzerland – but [post-Brexit we’d need a carnet] even for a one-off show in France.”

Agents and touring artists are already dealing with the aftermath of the decline of the CD business. Labels used to underwrite shows with support and use this as a marketing investment to break new acts that would then go on to sell records, thereby covering that development cost. Now, European dates will dramatically decline, with days off a rare thing because days off mean no money is coming in.

Colin Roberts of Big Life Management told Pitchfork in June: “Getting visas are an absolute minefield and it costs a lot of money, and it’s the reason that a lot of people don’t get to tour America. Even going to a country like Japan where visas are quite easy to get, I know how difficult it is having to factor in the cost and the time to acquire a visa.”