A1 Forms: Clancarty keeps up the pressure

• As trailed in the last newsletter, the Earl of Clancarty led a debate in the House of Lords this week on the Government’s work to improve the provision of A1 forms, in particular for self-employed workers in the music industry touring in the European Economic Area. Lord Clancarty outlined how LIVE had written to the Minister about the issue adding that there had been no noticeable improvement despite the recovery strategy being in place. Responding for the Government, Baroness Vere noted that HMRC is rolling out significant improvements to the application process by allocating extra resources to help answer phone calls and deal with correspondence across all national insurance services. That includes the training and deployment of more people to process A1 applications. HMRC has also introduced new digital A1 certificate application forms and will roll out automation technology to help process customers’ applications faster.
• The Minister went on to comment that she has “caused one or two minor waves in [HMRC] ensuring that this gets the priority that it needs. There has been an improvement, although I accept that it is not good enough—as HMRC also acknowledges—and that more needs to be done”. As a next step, LIVE is seeking a meeting with the relevant Minister, Nigel Huddlestone MP to press for further and more rapid improvements.

Government to host Music Export Academy

• Building on LIVE’s work with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the department is to host a one-hour Creative Industries Export Academy session dedicated to ‘Music Touring in the EU’.  The webinar will take place online at 2.00pm on February 7th with Government and industry leads offering insight and advice on key issues for UK musicians: visas, carnets and mobility issues; guidance and assistance available under the Export Support Service (ESS); cabotage and movement of equipment under the Trade & Cooperation Agreement, and export documentation, VAT and EORI numbers.
• Find further information and how to register here.

Over 1000 freelancers respond to ‘The Hidden Side of Freelancing 2024’ survey in first two weeks

• LIVE has partnered with Handle Freelance Solutions, The BACK LOUNGE and UK Live Event Freelancers Forum to launch a survey, The Hidden Side of Freelancing 2024, to understand and identify the changes required to improve the experience of freelancers who are crucial to the success of the live music industry.  With over 1000 freelancers responding to the survey in just two weeks, optimism prevails with the majority agreeing that the live music industry is a great industry for freelancers, however, some barriers and issues must be addressed.
• The survey explores pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events.  It aims to help freelancers understand their true value and benchmark their own experience whilst also celebrating what makes live music a great industry for freelancers.  The results will then be assessed, culminating in a publicly available report that will be published in April 2024.
• LIVE recognises that freelancers are crucial to the success of the live music ecosystem and our industry relies on them to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans.  This survey will give freelancers in our industry the information needed to get the most out of the work they do and help to deliver impactful change for every freelancer and the organisations that rely on freelance talent.”
• The survey can be accessed here, all responses will be strictly anonymous.

O2 hosts a global first

• LIVE was delighted to be joined at the O2 this week by DCMS Minister, Julia Lopez MP and her team to learn more about (and take in) the world’s first carbon removed gig. Prior to the show the O2 team walked and talked us through their approach to carbon reduction and carbon removal. Every aspect of the show had been factored in: from food containers and wormeries to energy usage and audience travel.
• Strikingly, this work included allocating 90p from each ticket to cover the cost of extracting the emissions generated by the audience getting to the arena. Congratulations to all involved and we look forward to learning more from the outcomes of this pioneering work. 

LIVE Talks: POWER UP equality and equity in the live sector of the UK music industry

• Join POWER UP alum for a discussion about the challenges for Black music practitioners within the live sector of the UK music industry as they share what they are doing, their hurdles and what initiatives they know of that are making REAL CHANGE! And – let’s not forget – what still needs to be done.
• Hosted by Ras Kwame, Broadcaster, contributors will include: Adem Holness, FRSA, Head of Contemporary Music at Southbank Centre; Hannah Shogbola, UTA Live Agent and Founder of DAJU and co-founder of BEMA; Tumi Williams, Promoter and Artist; and Neicee Oakley, Tour Manager.
• This online session will take place at 12.00pm on Tuesday 5th March, 2024 and you can sign up for FREE here. Do not forget that you can watch all of the previous talks in this series via the LIVE Talks archive. LIVE Talks would not be possible without the ongoing support of our committed partners: AEG, Kilimanjaro Live; Live Nation; Serious; SJM and Utilita Arena Birmingham. We thank them for their commitment to promoting and sharing insight and good practice across our sector.

Partner with us: support live music! 

• As LIVE builds out its programme of activities (from research and information exchange to events and political engagement) have you ever considered how you could get more involved? 2024 will see LIVE engage in further thought leadership work across sustainability, diversity and accessibility, while our events will showcase all that is great about our sector. If you would like to find out more about how you can support please contact gaby@livemusic.biz or check out more information here.