Brexit and the performing arts
How will Brexit affect the earning potential of British citizens who happen to be performers? The music business has been adversely affected by technological changes, to the point that there are a lot fewer artists making any income from recording nowadays. We make records because we need calling cards, to make audiences aware of our creativity, mainly through broadcasting media. There has been some speculation in recent times about the pros and cons of streaming services, as in how much they pay artists on their playlists. This means that musicians are a lot more dependent on earnings from live performances. Before the EU Referendum, we could take for granted the fact that we could move freely in any of the EU member states and earn income from performing shows and concerts. At present, things look very uncertain, especially since the Brexiteers are still campaigning for a “Hard Brexit”, which will probably affect our freedom of movement.
Imagine a situation where UK musicians, dancers and actors will have to get Schengen visas to tour in the relevant member states. First of all, there is no guarantee that the visas would be granted in each individual case. Secondly, we would not be protected under EU laws and would have to deal with a complex range of issues pertaining to insurance, tax, health care etc, whenever these would arise, from state to state.
The UK Conservative Party has been truly self indulgent and reckless to put us in this predicament. The high command of Labour hasn’t done much to protect us. Obviously, freedom of movement needs to be reciprocal, to be fair. The voters who wanted the UK to leave the EU have their own interests to be considered.
How is the political class going to make it up to those of us who have to bear the brunt of their navel gazing?
