Government report reveals £208 million cost of Brexit touring barriers for UK sector
Research commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has, for the first time, quantified the economic impact of post-Brexit touring barriers on UK artists and the wider creative industries, estimating losses of £208 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and 2,490 full-time equivalent jobs between 2022 and 2024.
The report, The Economic Benefits of Touring and the Impact of EU Exit, was produced by independent research organisations Ipsos and Nordicity using a mixed-methods approach, drawing on PRS for Music data alongside qualitative evidence from industry representatives and cultural institutions across the wider touring ecosystem. It covers live music, orchestras, theatre, dance and visual arts.
The findings show that overall EU touring by UK-based music artists remains 21 per cent below 2019 levels. Smaller and mid-scale touring activity has been disproportionately affected, particularly performances at general live music venues, while demand at larger stadium and arena venues has broadly recovered following the pandemic. Music accounts for the largest share of the losses, with the decline in live music performances associated with a direct economic loss of £81.6 million in GVA, rising to £180.2 million including indirect and induced impacts.
The impact extends significantly beyond the UK. Reduced touring by UK musicians is estimated to have resulted in losses of approximately £1.04 billion in GVA across EU host countries, including £367.9 million in direct GVA losses, with the remainder from wider indirect and induced effects. Germany experienced the largest impact, with estimated losses reaching nearly £290 million in GVA and an estimated 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland were also significantly affected.
The barriers identified by the report include visa and work permit requirements, the operation of the 90/180-day Schengen rule, customs procedures and temporary admission requirements for touring equipment, transport and haulage restrictions, and withholding tax and social security administration across multiple jurisdictions. These requirements interact cumulatively, increasing costs, complexity and operational uncertainty. The report also notes emerging workforce impacts, with some professionals considering relocating to the EU or leaving the sector altogether.
Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said: “…this independent research proves definitively that there is a wider economic impact for both UK and EU markets. We hope cultural exchange and touring will be a priority at the upcoming UK-EU Summit. The Prime Minister has assured us that it will be on the agenda.”
Speaking on behalf of the Cultural Exchange Coalition, Dave Webster (Head of International, Musicians’ Union), Tom Kiehl (CEO, UK Music) and Anita Debaere (Director, Pearle Live Performance Europe) said: “This report clearly shows that touring by UK artists and companies across the EU delivers significant economic and cultural value for both sides.
In challenging times, culture can be a bridge, an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes. We urge the UK Government and European Institutions to secure practical solutions for the creative industries and cultural sector at the next UK-EU Summit.”