UK Music chief Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has openly urged Boris Johnson to consider the live music sector in his ‘roadmap’ out of the pandemic lockdown. In a bid to save hundreds of jobs across the industry, Njoku-Goodwin has penned his statement before the PM’s announcement next week, in which he is expected to outline the country’s recovery scheme out of the pandemic. The live music industry employs approximately 200,000 people and generates £5.8 billion towards the UK economy every year; Njoku-Goodwin is urging the PM to provide “urgent clarity” to save hundreds of jobs which are “at risk of being lost forever.”
He said: “We are fast reaching a critical point for the live music industry. If festivals and large events are forced to cancel for another year, many will go under and thousands of jobs are at risk of being lost forever.
“We are not asking to reopen a moment before it is safe to do so, but if our sector is to survive through this pandemic then we require urgent clarity about the months ahead and some indication of when live music will be able to return. We have done a huge amount to reduce the risk of Covid transmission by working with the Government to develop safe working practices, engaging on testing pilots and by looking at all possible options to make festivals and venues as safe as possible.”
UK Music Chief Executive @jnjokugoodwin writes for @spectator on how we can #SaveOurSummer2021.
Read more here: https://t.co/tXTJut1LOq #LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/nF4Lq6CcXg
— UK Music (@UK_Music) January 11, 2021
Njoku Goodwin also emphasised the importance of sustained financial support for those currently employed by the live music industry, given it is unable to operate at this time and especially as three quarters of those who work in the industry are self-employed freelancers. However, while remaining cautious, he expressed his optimism for the coming months:
“The vaccination rollout has been a huge success and case rates are going in the right direction – but without certainty about when live music will be allowed to operate again, many businesses and organisations in our sector and the wider supply chain will struggle to survive. When the time for the post-pandemic recovery comes, the UK’s world-leading music industry can be a key part of our country’s economic and cultural revival.
“Live music brings massive economic benefits right across the country, often to communities where they are crucial to local employment and trade by creating extra business for hotels, taxi firms, restaurants, bars and many more. But for us to play that positive role in the post-pandemic recovery, and help provide the economy with the shot in the arm it will desperately need, our industry requires urgent clarity on the likely road ahead.”
