UK government shout out “shared European interest” of solving Brexit touring crisis in push for “real progress” in Brussels

The UK government have highlighted the “shared European interest” in solving the ongoing Brexit touring crisis for artists, musicians and crew as they called for more “real progress” at an event in Brussels.

See exclusive quotes from DCMS Minister Ian Murray’s speech below.

READ MORE: UK touring bands are suffering due to “Brexit fuck-ups and a lack of government control” After the music industry were essentially dealt a “no deal” Brexit with an end to visa-free travel for UK artists and crew wishing to work back in 2020, “ catastrophic” predictions of the sector being “screwed over ” and facing an existential threat to the talent pipeline have come into fruition and remain unresolved.

A report by the Musicians’ Union in 2024 found that 75 per cent of artists had seen a decline in bookings in the EU since Brexit, with 79 per cent unable to make up for the loss of work elsewhere and the majority claiming that touring in Europe was simply “no longer financially viable”.

A recent study by UK Music found that the impact of Brexit on touring was only “worsening” with the rate of growth down by more than half on 2023 – despite “record-breaking” income reported by the upper echelons.

Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell and Joff Oddie live at Glastonbury 2025.

Credit: Andy Ford for NME Back in March, the Labour government pledged “full commitment ” to solving the crisis and breaking down barriers to musicians needing to tour Europe.

June saw MPs share a new report calling for the government to work closely with the EU and individual member states to break down the problems and put a stop to the devastation being brought upon the live music music industry by Brexit.

Now, with the UK having sailed past the 10 year anniversary of voting to leave the EU, progress continues in Brussels.

Last week saw Minister of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Ian Murray speak at the iconic Ancienne Belgique after meeting with senior EU representatives, as well as European legislators and music industry stakeholders.

His speech, made at an evening reception featuring performances from Stardust singer-songwriter Benjamin Diamond, Venus Grrrls and The Snuts , saw Murray celebrate “Europe’s rich and diverse music ecosystem, and the UK’s very important place within it”.

“Music is one of our great cultural and economic strengths,” he said.

“There’s not a country in the world that wouldn’t give their right arm for just a fraction of the great music that the UK produces.

It brings people together, creates jobs, and gives us a shared language that crosses borders.” Murray pointed to how the music industry supports over 200,000 jobs in the UK as well as contributing £8billion to the economy, with that success and influence spreading far across borders.