More than 100 UK music professionals sign open letter calling on government to save live festivals

‘Insurance must be the first step in unlocking the huge contribution that festivals make to our economy, protecting not only the supply chains, but the musicians who rely on them for work,’ the letter reads

More than 100 UK music professionals sign open letter calling on government to save live festivals (Getty Images)

In an open letter with more than 100 music industry signatures, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee MPs have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking him to extend government-backed insurance schemes to festivals and live music events, warning that organisers and investors will be unable to risk financial losses sustained in 2020 unless live events can be insured against cancellation.

"The Government is telling us that life should be getting back to normal by the summer but unless it can provide a safety net, it will be a summer without festivals," wrote DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP. "The industry says that without government-backed insurance, many festivals and live music events just won’t happen because organisers can’t risk getting their fingers burnt for a second year.

"The Committee has heard from festival organisers that this is a matter of urgency," he continued. "Insurance must be the first step in unlocking the huge contribution that festivals make to our economy, protecting not only the supply chains, but the musicians who rely on them for work.

"The Government already offers a level of cover to the film and television industries, now is the time to extend support to other creative industries or risk losing some of our best loved and world-renowned festivals."

The letter points out that the commercial insurance market will not offer Covid-related insurance until 2022, which makes the live music economy that much more at risk in 2021 as the status of most live festivals continues to be up in the air due to Covid-19 concerns.

The appeal also notes that other creative industries currently are protected by government underwriting schemes and asks that the same protection be extended to live music.

"What’s clear is that insurance is of the utmost importance when it comes to

getting our economy going again across the whole of the UK," the letter continues. "Whatever form it takes, businesses need to be able to access reliable insurance schemes to get back on track. Government underwriting is the only way this will be possible."

Music festival organisers have been calling for government assistance for 2021 for some time now, with Glastonbury co-organiser Michael Eavis saying in June that his festival could go bankrupt if it had to be cancelled this year. His daughter Emily Eavis, who co-organises Glastonbury, said last month that the UK tentpole festival lost "millions" in 2020, adding, "We’re still quite a long way from being able to say we’re confident 2021 will go ahead."