Industry leaders unite at Great Escape Festival to address challenges facing UK musicians touring the EU. Calls for swift action ahead of EU-UK Summit.
UK Music Industry Unites at Great Escape Festival
Legendary music industry broadcaster Steve Lamacq and Kaiser Chiefs' Simon Rix joined forces with musicians, artists, and industry leaders at Brighton's Great Escape Festival to urge political leaders to remove barriers to touring the EU. They gathered at the festival to deliver their message via a giant seaside postcard, emphasizing the need to eliminate obstacles for UK acts touring the EU and vice versa.
Support from Music Industry Leaders
Several key figures in the music industry, including AIM CEO Gee Davy, FAC CEO David Martin, and MP Tom Gray, showed their support by signing the postcard. The message was also endorsed by industry icon Steve Lamacq, Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix, and Labour MP Alex Sobel.
Message to Political Leaders
The postcard, titled 'Wish You Were Here,' highlighted the critical importance of removing barriers to touring for emerging acts and the overall UK music ecosystem. UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl emphasized the necessity of swift action to ensure that UK talent can thrive internationally.
Call for Action
The industry's plea comes ahead of a key EU-UK Summit and follows an open letter signed by over 500 industry leaders warning about the unworkable nature of current touring arrangements. Since the UK's exit from the EU, increased costs and bureaucracy have posed significant challenges for musicians.
Looking Ahead
With mounting pressure on political leaders to address these issues, the music industry is hopeful for a positive outcome that will facilitate smoother touring arrangements and support the growth of UK talent on the international stage.
Published on 28 July 2025 by Ben Robinson
