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“The potential ramifications are absolutely huge,” said Anderson. “Because everything is so

uncertain, we may end up in a situation where once live music can happen, this situation where the
UK has really been the dominant force in EU touring may just stop.”
Brexit touring row: UK proposals not fit for purpose, says EU

Historically, said Anderson, international artists have “hubbed” into the UK for EU tours thanks to

the high quality of its transport, staging, lighting and sound operations. If cabotage – the transport
of goods or passengers between two places in the same country by a transport operator from
another country – remains in place, “they’re likely to stop doing that and start hubbing in through
Germany or France because it’s much easier to begin in those territories”.

The result, he said, may be Britain’s leading touring companies partnering with EU businesses or
moving out of the UK entirely, a prospect he had considered.

Emma Edgar, an Irish tour manager for bands including Hot Chip, Wolf Alice and Everything
Everything, said there “was no clear guidance” on whether days spent driving through several EU
countries en route to a gig in another country would count against the current 30-day limit for
artists to work in the EU, further restricting their capacity to perform.

Many interviewees welcomed the coronavirus pandemic putting a delay between the trade
agreement becoming law and the realistic recommencement of touring. “Hopefully when we do go
back they will realise it is unworkable,” said Edgar.

“We don’t need clarity,” said the MU’s Pohl. “We need a deal. Even if we get clarity, it’s still going
to be a complete nightmare.”

The open letter in the Times was also signed by Liam Gallagher, Joss Stone and Bryan May. Among
the signatories was Roger Daltrey, who was a prominent supporter of Brexit, and Sir Simon Rattle,
who announced this week that he had applied for German citizenship. It was coordinated by the
Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM).

It said: “The reality is that British musicians, dancers, actors and their support staff have been
shamefully failed by their government.

“The deal done with the EU has a gaping hole where the promised free movement for musicians
should be. Everyone on a European music tour will now need costly work permits for many
countries they visit and a mountain of paperwork for their equipment.”

On Tuesday the ISM announced it was launching a visa and work permit advice service in
partnership with Viva La Visa.

ISM’s chief executive, Deborah Annetts, said: “We recognise the significant need for clear advice for

our members who are working in the EU. International touring represents an essential part of
many musicians’ livelihoods, with 44% of musicians earning up to half of their income in the EU
before the pandemic.”