The revenue of British festivals such as Glastonbury has plummeted since the start of the pandemic. Getty Images
The revenue of British festivals such as Glastonbury has plummeted since the start of the pandemic. Getty Images
The revenue of British festivals such as Glastonbury has plummeted since the start of the pandemic. Getty Images
The revenue of British festivals such as Glastonbury has plummeted since the start of the pandemic. Getty Images

Europe

UK music industry demands action to save summer festivals

Pandemic led to 90 per cent fall in festival revenue in 2020

Paul Peachey
Paul Peachey
London

January 05, 2021

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The British music industry is seeking government help to get major live events staged this summer.

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a 90 per cent drop in revenue for festivals in 2020, with fears of job losses for half of the 200,000 workforce.

Industry body UK Music called for a government-backed insurance scheme as part of a blueprint published on Tuesday.

It also called for grants and tax relief to get the sector back in business as soon as possible.

Officials said the industry – with a pre-Covid contribution to the economy of £5.8 billion ($7.9bn) annually – could play a vital role in galvanising the UK's recovery but that it needed time and support to prepare.

The pandemic came after a boom year for festivals, with visitor numbers up 6 per cent to 5.2 million in 2019.

"Government is rolling out the vaccine and is openly speculating about returning to normal by the spring," chief executive of UK Music Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said.

"But there is a serious risk that even if this proves to be a reality, lack of notice and available insurance options will mean much of the 2021 summer music season can’t go ahead."

  • A pedestrian shelters from the rain as they walk across an almost deserted Piccadilly Circus in London as Britain enters a national lockdown. AFP
    A pedestrian shelters from the rain as they walk across an almost deserted Piccadilly Circus in London as Britain enters a national lockdown. AFP
  • A general view of a deserted Regent Street in London. AFP
    A general view of a deserted Regent Street in London. AFP
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    People ride on quiet escalators at Waterloo underground station in London. Reuters
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    A worker sweeps a pavement at the Bank Junction in London. Reuters
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    An empty underground train in London. Reuters
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    People walk over a quiet London Bridge. Reuters
  • Workers paint social distancing signs at Eel Brook Common in Fulham, London. Reuters
    Workers paint social distancing signs at Eel Brook Common in Fulham, London. Reuters
  • A pedestrian walks past a closed down Coffee-shop on an almost deserted street in Liverpool. AFP
    A pedestrian walks past a closed down Coffee-shop on an almost deserted street in Liverpool. AFP
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    Pedestrians walk through central Glasgow. AFP
  • Empty streets in Glasgow. Scotland is to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown for the rest of January because of a surge in cases. AFP
    Empty streets in Glasgow. Scotland is to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown for the rest of January because of a surge in cases. AFP
  • A view of the deserted High Street in St Albans. Reuters
    A view of the deserted High Street in St Albans. Reuters
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    A police car patrols in central Manchester. AFP
  • A pedestrian walks on an empty street in central Manchester. AFP
    A pedestrian walks on an empty street in central Manchester. AFP
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