Ronnie Wooden, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones carry out onstage at Onerous Rock Stadium on August 30, 2019 in
Ronnie Wooden, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones carry out onstage at Onerous Rock Stadium on August 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida.
Wealthy Fury/Getty Photos
The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are amongst greater than 1,500 musicians who’ve signed a letter to the British authorities, asking for it to assist save the stay music trade amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The joint open letter, which additionally included signatures from Ed Sheeran, Lionel Richie, Dua Lipa and pop group Little Combine, mentioned that whereas the U.Okay. authorities had addressed the restarting of “two vital British pastimes — soccer and pubs,” it was now “essential that it focuses on a 3rd, stay music.”
“For the nice of the economic system, the careers of rising British artists, and the UK’s international music standing, we should be certain that a stay music trade stays when the pandemic has lastly handed,” the letter learn.
Addressed to Britain’s Tradition Secretary Oliver Dowden, it highlights the financial affect stay music has made, having contributed £4.5 billion ($5.6 billion) to the British economic system and supporting 210,000 jobs in 2019.
The necessity for social distancing as a result of coronavirus pandemic has meant many live shows and reveals have been canceled or postponed in the previous few months.
The letter mentioned the stay music trade had been “proud to play our half within the nationwide effort to cut back the unfold of coronavirus.”
Nevertheless, with no clear finish to social distancing and authorities monetary help but to be agreed, it mentioned the long run for stay music and those who work within the trade “seems bleak.”
Along with musicians, 688 venues, 147 cowl acts and comedians, together with 3,416 manufacturing firms and employees additionally signed the letter.
It added that the sector did not wish to ask for the federal government’s assist, however on condition that it is doubtless these companies would solely re-open in 2021 on the earliest, this help can be “essential to forestall mass insolvencies, and the top of this nice British trade.”
A U.Okay. authorities spokesperson mentioned that it was “already offering unprecedented monetary help which many music organisations and artists have taken benefit of resembling loans and the job retention scheme and we proceed to take a look at further help we are able to present the trade. “
Final month, U.Okay. charity the Music Venue Belief known as for a £50 million lifeline from the federal government to forestall “mass closures” of venues within the coming months.