The Pop Corporation

The Culture Minister – Ian Murray – has promised the “full commitment” of the UK government in a bid to remove the barriers around touring in the EU and UK, apparently. There’s been a lot of talk about this in recent years, with musicians hamstrung by bureaucracy and levies, while trying to earn a living.

Speaking at the inaugural event of the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC) in Brussels, Murray said there was “very much a will to try and find a way through this”.

“There is a real political will both from the UK side and from the EU side to try and find some solutions to this because we have heard this is not just a UK issue, this is a European-wide issue. There’s very much a will to try and find a way through this – and to do it as quickly as we possibly can.”

Murray added that there was work that needed to be done, or “the whole industry is going to collapse”.

“We know how difficult it is in terms of touring and how difficult it is in terms of costs and the additional costs have become prohibitive,” he continued. “So, there’s a full commitment from our side in terms of the UK government to fulfil the commitment in the EU and UK Summit to fulfil the aspirations of the Cultural Compass and to make sure we can have all our artists – whether it be UK artists in Europe or European artists in the UK – as seamless as possible.”

Of course, there’ll be eyes rolling at this, because we’ve heard it all before. However, choosing optimism, let’s hope for the best here.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said of this: “While the UK may have left the EU it is still very much part of Europe, yet the current deal is not the best that we can do. I urge the Government and Commission to build on this positive moment and strengthen the Common Understanding between the UK and EU on cultural exchange and touring artists.”

Hosting MEP Hannes Heide added that “we must not forget [that] every solution is not only for the guitar player or the drummer on stage” but also “about technicians, engineers, truckers, Nightliner driver, merchandiser – it shows the whole ecosystem and how many people are contributing and are part of it.”

Fingers crossed.