YTL Arena Supports Let the Music Play Campaign
The government has announced a £1.57bn support package to protect the UK’s music and creative industries.
Last week, artists and organisations from across the UK music sector came together in support of a campaign calling on the government for immediate action to protect one of the most vulnerable industries to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
UK Music and members of the UK Live Music Group, alongside a coalition of live music businesses including artists, venues, concerts, festivals, production companies and industry figures launched a campaign, Let The Music Play, to highlight the importance of the sector to the UK’s economy.
On 5 July, the government unveiled a £1.57bn support package to help protect the futures of UK theatres, galleries, museums and other cultural venues.
Reacting to the package, UK Music Acting CEO Tom Kiehl said:
“A £1.57bn support package for the arts is a huge step forward and should be a lifesaver for many music venues. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and DCMS Minister Caroline Dinenage are to be warmly congratulated.
“The music industry was one of the first sectors to be hit by measures to tackle COVID-19.
“UK Music has long called for sector specific support to ensure live music can recover. Eligibility for grants and loans must be as broad as possible to ensure maximum take up from across the industry from those in desperate need of help.
“Those that don’t have a track record of public funding must also not be put at a disadvantage. We are seeking urgent talks with Arts Council England to discuss further.”
More than 1,500 artists, including Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, signed the open letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden.