The UK government has rejected a deal from the EU which would have allowed musicians visa-free touring according to a report by The Independent.
This rejection reportedly comes as the UK did not want to offer artists from the EU the same freedoms.
An EU source told The Independent, βIt is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but the UK said no.β
A petition calling for visa-free touring across the EU currently has just under 230,000 signatures.
This decision comes as the latest blow to artists and the live music industry which has been disproportionately wounded by the coronavirus pandemic..
The need to acquire visas adds an additional cost to touring and could forbid those with specific past convictions from travelling.
With festivals and tours cancelled since March 2020 and the industry unsure about a 2021 return, the move acts as the latest government failure to safeguard the live music industry.