Birmingham Music Network works with the local music community to stimulate growth, inspire, and share knowledge. We offer practical based industry experience and are not genre specific.
Being a musician involves composing, conducting, or performing music as a profession or as a hobby. Musicians create, perform, and interpret music in various styles, either alone or as part of a group or ensemble. A music performer is generally either a singer who provides vocals or an instrumentalist who plays a musical instrument. Musicians may specialise in different styles of music depending on their background, training, and interests. Additionally, being a musician may involve recording and releasing music as a recording artist, which involves creating both a musical work and a sound recording protected by copyright. Ultimately, being a musician is a passion for creating and sharing music with others. But it’s not easy to earn a living as a musician.
Musicians, like all of us, are facing the biggest decline in living standards in living memory. Millions of people up and down the country are now dependent on foodbanks, with over 100,000 having to access warm banks each week and many more are taking on multiple jobs just to keep the radiators on in their homes and to put food on their table.
Over a decade of austerity, cuts and the Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on almost every single aspect of modern society. The lasting negative impact of the cost of living crisis remains to be seen but, for the live music and entertainment industry, it may just be the latest hammerblow to a sector where serious financial issues have gone unaddressed for too long.
Last month, the Music Venues Trust released its annual report for the year 2022 which highlighted the fragility of the British live music industry, which brings in £500m to the UK economy and has a total sector expenditure of just over £499m — leaving a profit margin of just 0.2 per cent.
This, shockingly, is despite 22 million of us enjoying live music performances last year.
It is fair to say that, without urgent action from the government, we could lose a number of important community assets that account for over 30,000 jobs and an incalculable music heritage in towns and cities in every part of the country.
UK to lose 10 per cent of grassroots venues in 2023, as calls grow for rest of industry to invest buff.ly/461GZ5Z
The first report of the 2023 Musicians’ Census has just been released and gives a detailed insight into the demographic makeup of UK musicians, the barriers to career progression and economic challenges buff.ly/3LxL0ag
Brexit continues to hurt UK Musicians and Crew – Hypebot buff.ly/3r7B6oK
Brexit batters incomes of over 80% of UK touring musicians, as calls mount for immediate government action buff.ly/45JNk5T
UK Musicians’ Census reveals insights on earnings and career barriers buff.ly/3rhkDhR
Nearly half of working UK musicians earn less than £14k, new census finds buff.ly/46ug3fl
‘The buildings were a sign of civic pride’: anger as art colleges around the UK close their doors buff.ly/3RkQvNf
Campaigners blame Brexit for drop in European artists playing UK festivals buff.ly/46fBhgB
UK Music and FanFair Alliance deliver their latest calls for reform buff.ly/3ZexfD3
Third of UK musicians earn less than £14k buff.ly/3r51eRn
The Brexit deal has been devastating for touring UK musicians – but this can be rectified https://buff.ly/44DKv56
More Than 80% Of UK Musicians Touring EU Have Seen Brexit Hit Their Earnings
UK musicians’ tour earnings plummet thanks to Brexit
UK Music survey: 82% of artists touring EU say Brexit has hit earnings
Ash’s Tim Wheeler: ‘It’s such a pain in the arse, Brexit’ https://buff.ly/3L2nPVq
Study Reveals Brexit’s Impact on UK Musicians – Ludwig Van Daily buff.ly/3ONcDNm
British musicians say they are losing out on gigs and jobs in Europe since Brexit buff.ly/3Pju6i1
‘The government has been asleep on the job’: report reveals almost half of UK musicians working less in Europe than before Brexit buff.ly/3P8v3cQ
Almost 50 per cent of UK musicians working less in Europe after Brexit buff.ly/3Ean2h9
Nearly half of UK musicians have lost work in Europe following Brexit, stark report reveals buff.ly/3KQ80kf
Brexit sees UK musicians’s work dry up in EU: ‘It’s killing us’ buff.ly/45nesaG
Quarter of music industry workers have had no work in EU since Brexit buff.ly/3ONHeKy
How to ensure your post-Brexit travel to the EU is seamless buff.ly/3Ea4ygN
Nearly 28% of music industry workers have had no work in EU since Brexit – Access All Areas buff.ly/44wK7pe
Labour MP hits out at ‘massively damaging’ issue facing musicians coming to Scotland buff.ly/47mdM6W
Brussels tells EU states: Ignore UK on post-Brexit trade buff.ly/3DSymOU
Over 80% of UK musicians report loss of earnings due to Brexit | News | ArtsProfessional
Brexit red tape ties up musicians touring EU and cuts into earnings
Post-Brexit talent visa gets just three applicants in two years
Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones Criticizes the Use of AI in Music Industry buff.ly/45drnfc
Visa fee increase for international touring musicians delayed by US government buff.ly/3QbXaZp
UK Music – Study raises questions over unintended effects of constraining British artists to domestic tours post-Brexit. – Birmingham Music Network buff.ly/474bQ2U
How Brexit crippled touring for UK musicians buff.ly/44BZInS
UK music brought in €7.7bn in tourism – but is the scene healthy? buff.ly/3NW8lmk
Brexit adding extra stress to concert promoters – Soundsphere magazine buff.ly/3O59DM6
Live Music Research – Researching the business and culture of live music buff.ly/44G9p4C
UK live music revenue to hit all-time high this year – Access All Areas buff.ly/44sol6g
Event professionals. There has been expectation that those looking to break into the industry carry the financial burden of inadequate budgets, and endure long hours, below acceptable welfare conditions, and undefined outcomes. buff.ly/3Css9IO
Lords committee urges end to Brexit barriers for musicians and young people buff.ly/44gUhuX
Parliament opens debate on the devastating impact of Brexit buff.ly/3n67p5D
Ice Cube says AI is demonic and its use in music will spark a backlash: ‘Somebody can’t take your original voice and manipulate it without having to pay.’ buff.ly/3Wt15SZ
Why UK Bands Playing in Europe Are Booing Brexit buff.ly/3OYvJ4L
Musicians left ‘sad and humiliated’ by disaster of post-Brexit travel for gigs buff.ly/3pQx1V3
Noel Gallagher blasts Brexit: ‘absolute disaster’ buff.ly/43aR4fl
Blur frontman: ‘Brexit was a travesty for young musicians’ buff.ly/3MSist4
Blur’s Damon Albarn labels Brexit a “disaster” buff.ly/3BSXqEg
Midnight Sun Festival launch cancelled.“Rising costs and limited availability on festival infrastructure, as well as the cost of living crisis having an impact on ticket sales means that we are not in the position to deliver the event” buff.ly/421uncy
The Government-backed Live Events Reinsurance Scheme, designed to offer live events operators cover during the Covid-19 pandemic, paid out just one single claim of £180,500 while generating nearly £6m in premiums to cover 169 events buff.ly/3NipTKJ
David Furnish slams Brexit red tape amid slump in UK acts at EU festivals
Musicians left devastated as Brexit takes toll on travel for gigs | The National
EU Provides Clarity Regarding Portable Musical Instruments and Associated ATA Carnet Requirements
The art of Brexterity: the vandalism of one of the UK’s most profitable sectors
Simon Rattle: UK classical music is fighting for life after ‘swingeing’ funding cuts
37% of young festival-goers put off by increased prices – Access All Areas buff.ly/3AcFLGS
Musician explains why AI will never be able to replicate art & music as humans do ‘Disappointed feeling that there are smart people out there that actually think the artistic act is so mundane that it can be replicated by a machine,’ https://scoop.upworthy.com/musician-explains-why-ai-wont-be-able-to-replicate-art-like-humans-do
Ukrainian orchestra’s key members refused visas to play in UK buff.ly/3KXkmaQ
German band ‘refused entry to UK in Brexit rules row’ buff.ly/3UVnrM8
Glasgow venue ‘struggling’ as Brexit rules are ‘killing’ independent music scene buff.ly/3Ado89Q
Britain is a dying nation in need of new curators | Stewart Lee buff.ly/3GXyZIZ
In Brexit Britain, the arts are being treated as hobbyist luxuries for the independently wealthy. A day job is a reality for many it’s how artists, writers, & musicians, not blessed with independent or inherited wealth, keep themselves afloat buff.ly/40kVtdP
Dominion Festival debut cancelled with only 5% of tickets sold – Access All Areas buff.ly/3Lh3g8c
Ian MacKaye on the “depressing” state of the music industry https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/ian-mackaye-depressing-state-of-the-music-industry/
New US visa 260% price hike will impose further pain on UK touring musicians buff.ly/3okKpzT
British Musicians Suffer from the Cost of Living Crisis – Skipping a Meal, Performing Less, and Finding a New Job Is on Today’s Agenda buff.ly/40qUqc1
Music by the many for the many – SAM SWEEK highlights the devastation Government policies have visited on the music industry
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/music-by-the-many-for-the-many
Government accepts key Committee recommendations to provide greater transparency on music streaming work and a more proactive approach to cultural policy
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/194466/government-accepts-key-committee-recommendations-to-provide-greater-transparency-on-music-streaming-work-and-a-more-proactive-approach-to-cultural-policy/
38 Million tracks on music streaming services were played ZERO times in 2022. Nearly a quarter (24%) of the 158 million tracks on music streaming services monitored by Luminate in 2022 attracted ZERO plays that year. That’s approximately 38 million tracks
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/38-million-tracks-on-music-streaming-service-were-played-zero-times-in-2022-elon-musks-book/
Robomagic’s James Massing on putting artists and the planet first
https://accessaa.co.uk/robomagics-james-massing-on-putting-artists-and-the-planet-first/
Festival Lab 2023 course to tackle lack of diversity in festival industry – Access All Areas
https://accessaa.co.uk/festival-lab-2023-course-to-tackle-lack-of-diversity-in-festival-industry/
UK Music calls on Chancellor to back eight-point plan for jobs and growth | M Magazine
https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/uk-music-calls-on-chancellor-to-back-eight-point-plan-for-jobs-and-growth
U.S. Visa Hike May Impact Future Mobility of Touring Musicians
https://americansongwriter.com/u-s-visa-hike-may-impact-future-mobility-of-touring-musicians/
Music venues and clubs warn of mass closures after government spring budget revealed
https://www.nme.com/news/music/music-venues-and-clubs-warn-of-mass-closures-after-government-spring-budget-revealed-3414142
The Price of Music: Artists explain how the monumental expenses of touring make it an unfeasible reality
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-price-of-music-artists-touring/
British Musicians Suffer from the Cost of Living Crisis – OperaWire ?
https://operawire.com/criticism-on-fridays-british-musicians-suffer-from-the-cost-of-living-crisis/
The economy is so bad for British musicians that 25% are having to skip meals – Alan Cross
https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/the-economy-is-so-bad-for-british-musicians-that-25-are-having-to-skip-meals/
British musicians forced to cancel US tours as visa costs rise
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/01/british-musicians-forced-cancel-us-tours-visa-costs-rise-badenoch/
Music Venue Trust calls on local councils to help save gig spaces after Preston City Council gives £150k to Own Our Venues scheme
https://www.nme.com/news/music/music-venue-trust-calls-on-local-councils-to-help-save-gig-spaces-after-preston-city-council-gives-150k-to-own-our-venues-scheme-3411676
Cost of living and last minute gig-goer decisions “a perfect storm” for grassroots music venues
https://www.nme.com/news/music/music-venues-grassroots-uk-gigs-cancelled-fans-last-minute-cost-of-living-3391412
Leaked letter: ‘A toxic culture of fear and paranoia’ at the BBC, from the D-G down – SlippediscSlippedisc | The inside track on classical music and related cultures, by Norman Lebrecht
https://slippedisc.com/2023/03/leaked-letter-a-toxic-culture-of-fear-and-paranoia-at-the-bbc-from-the-d-g-down/
Artists in UK public sector making far below minimum wage, survey finds | Arts funding | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/mar/12/artists-in-uk-public-sector-making-far-below-minimum-wage-survey-finds
Tour Management: Crossing the UK/EU Border Using a Carnet
https://ironmanrecords.net/2022/07/tour-management-crossing-the-uk-eu-border-using-a-carnet/
Tour Management: Going to Ireland and crossing the UK/EU Border using a Carnet
https://ironmanrecords.net/2022/11/tour-management-going-to-ireland-and-crossing-the-uk-eu-border-using-a-carnet/
German punk band Trigger Cut refused entry to UK to tour because of Brexit
https://louderthanwar.com/german-punk-band-trigger-cut-refused-entry-to-uk-to-tour-because-of-brexit-bullshit/
German punk band ‘humiliated’ after being refused UK entry due to post-Brexit rules
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/10/german-punk-band-humiliated-after-being-refused-uk-entry-due-to-post-brexit-rules?
In Conversation with Dodgy’s Nigel Clark: all things Britpop, Billie Eilish, and why Britain just isn’t being ‘Good Enough’ to its musicians – The Mancunion
https://mancunion.com/2023/03/10/in-conversation-with-dodgys-nigel-clark/
Let me be clear. If you don’t buy direct from Artists and Musicians, and if you don’t buy physical products from Artists and Musicians, those Artists and Musicians you like won’t be able to survive much longer. Please make your purchases now or make your way to the exit as the store will have to close soon. You have the power to keep Artists and Musicians in work. Think what you are doing. And if you don’t act, those subscription services you like so much…. might just be all that will be left.
Bandcamp Friday – If you have the means to do so, please support Bandcamp Friday & buy direct from artists & labels. It’s a way to support independent musicians directly & sustain their work https://bandcamp.com/ And if you don’t have the means to make a purchase, leave a comment and share, share, share. Everything helps.
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