Yahoo Finance Elton John says Brexit negotiators 'screwed up' deal for musicians
Elton John has criticised Brexit negotiators for "screwing up" the deal for musicians.
British musicians are now no longer guaranteed visa-free travel around Europe and may face new paperwork and extra costs, something many artists have spoken out against.
John has been a vocal critic of the government’s deal failing to cater to music artists and insists there must be renegotiations.
Writing in The Guardian, the 73-year-old said: "The situation we’re now in is ridiculous. Music is one of Britain’s greatest cultural exports. It contributed £5.8bn to the British economy in 2019, but was left out of the Brexit trade negotiations when other industries weren’t.
Read more: Elton John and Rod Stewart bury feud
"Workers from some professions are still allowed to travel on business without applying for a visa. But not musicians. Either the Brexit negotiators didn’t care about musicians, or didn’t think about them, or weren’t sufficiently prepared. They screwed up.
"It’s ultimately down to the British government to sort it out: they need to go back and renegotiate."
Great to speak with @eltonofficial & David Furnish on growing the UK music sector
We had a v positive call where we discussed opportunities to help talented musicians tour both EU & rest of the world more easily
Lots of work going on in Govt on this
Grateful for your time! pic.twitter.com/pC4b3lRdaq— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) February 3, 2021
It comes as the Tiny Dancer hitmaker took part in a discussion with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden about post-Brexit travel arrangements for touring musicians last week.
He also added his name to a letter from more than 100 musicians stating performers have been “shamefully failed” by new visa rules.
Dowden has said the EU must budge to end the “absurd and self-defeating” obstacles facing UK-based musicians wishing to tour Europe post-Brexit.
Ronan Keating has added his voice to those hitting out at where the deal leaves musicians and crews.
The Boyzone star told BBC Breakfast the situation is "ridiculous". He said: "It’s not so much about larger artists who already have back catalogues and careers.
“We won’t be able to go touring, it’s just not going to happen”
Singer-songwriter Ronan Keating tells #BBCBreakfast the post-Brexit conditions for touring musicians will be devastating to the live industry. https://t.co/4GLT4Zi6Lr pic.twitter.com/AiFOyfSxWJ— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) February 8, 2021
“There’s no money in record sales, the way that they (bands) make money is actually touring. So, to slap this on them, it’s just going to be devastating for the live industry… We won’t be able to go touring.”
Read more: Ronan Keating asks PM to meet him in park to discuss music industry
Radiohead's Colin Greenwood has also stepped in to speak out on the increased costs of touring post-Brexit.
He wrote in The Guardian: “It is time for the UK government to admit it didn’t do enough for the creative industries during the Brexit negotiations and look to renegotiate on the provision for touring in Europe,” he said.
“My country’s music is great because it scorns borders and boundaries; it is a great patriotic source, a force of confidence, joy and shared passions. I am proud of my country and all the music it has exchanged with the world, and I am sure that pride is felt across all ages and cultures in the UK.
"It is the antithesis of the culturally pinched nationalism that is Brexit, and its diminishment would deprive us all.”
With additional reporting by PA.
Watch: Roger Daltrey says he hasn’t changed EU opinion despite criticising Brexit touring impact
