Glastonbury Canceled, Signals Bankruptcy Of The Music Concert Industry In England?

Concerts (Pien Muller / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The biggest music festival in Britain, Glastonbury has been postponed for the second time. On Thursday, January 21st, Michael & Emily Eavis as promoters announced this sad news.

Through their official statement, they did not provide specific reasons for the cancellation, but they reported that buyers of Glastonbury tickets in 2019 can put a deposit for the Glastonbury show in 2022.

"We believe we can bring something special for us in 2022," said Michael and Emily. The public believes the COVID-19 pandemic is still the main reason why promoters like Glastonbury chose to cancel rather than delay.

With great regret, we must announce that this year's Glastonbury Festival will not take place, and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us. Tickets for this year will roll over to next year. Full statement below and on our website. Michael & Emily pic.twitter.com/SlNdwA2tHd

- Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) January 21, 2021

Glastonbury has been a part of British culture for many years. Glastonbury provides an economic resource for both performers and promoters. The state also benefits from the large number of immigrants from various countries.

Government Asked to Intervene

The cancellation of Glastonbury is believed to be the beginning of the end of the concert industry in England. On the same day, the government asked the community to immediately take "rescue" action.

“The news about the cancellation of the Glastonbury Festival for the second year is heartbreaking. We have repeatedly asked the government to safeguard our own festivals like this one with an aid scheme, "said Chairman of the Committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Julian Knight, as reported by NME.

But the government did nothing and this will have an impact on the country's economy later. Even the festival and concert industry is in danger of disappearing forever.

“The music industry is depressed to be able to go back to normal in order to operate safely. When the time comes after the recovery of the pandemic, we can play a role in reviving the country's cultural and economic industries. But to get to that point, we need financial support (from the government) to keep going, ”said Jamie Njoku-Goodwon, Head of UK Music.

Not the first

In July 2020, a number of musicians signed an open letter to Oliver Dowden, Minister of Culture, asking the government to help those working in the music or concert industry. Titled #LetTheMusicPlay, this open letter was signed by more than 1,500 musicians including Cher, New Order, Iron Maiden, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Cure, Liam Gallagher and many others. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 92 percent of festival businesses are at risk of bankruptcy.

At that time, the British government predicted that in 2021, a number of business sectors would be opened. A number of artists asked the government to help the financial condition of concert staff and musicians until 2021. These musicians also shared the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign through social media. They uploaded stories while holding a concert with the crew,

I miss this so much! I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've been given. Now it's time to pay back to the incredible people who make up the UK music industry including all the crew who work so hard behind the scenes. pic.twitter.com/Osc47zEq6z

- TWO LIPA (@DUALIPA) July 2, 2020

The British government says it will focus on two sectors: football and pubs. But a number of these musicians think the government should also make music a priority. Musicians claim music concerts made £ 4.5 billion in 2019.

The government listened to the request. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, provided assistance of £ 880 million with a loan of £ 270 million and is given until April 2021.

Through his official statement, Johnson said the funds were given to help stage workers and a number of places to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of directors and promoters praised the British government for providing the funds of such large value.

Brexit Inaugurated, Musicians Threatened

After legalizing Brexit in early 2021, Boris Johnson did not succeed in winning a free visa agreement for British musicians traveling to European Union countries. Therefore, musicians who wish to tour Europe must apply for a work visa.

Musicians have to spend more to travel and hold concerts in any capacity. This is clearly detrimental to musicians, especially for people who are just starting a career. As a result, more than 100 musicians expressed disappointment with Johnson's performance, including Ed Sheeran, Brian May, Liam Gallagher and others.

After the Brexit agreement, the government allowed some professions to travel to Europe without visas but musicians and crew were not included in this list. It has become increasingly difficult for art activists to hold concerts outside the UK.

Even British musicians have the potential to be unable to perform in the United States, adding to the barriers to long-term tours. "With performers barriers to working in Europe, it will make it harder for new talents to tour the world, collaborate and exchange ideas with colleagues from Europe," said Featured Artist Coalition CEO David Martin.

British Government Efforts

Recently, Oliver Dowden stated that the British government is in discussion about financial support for the music industry. Since the post-Brexit agreement, the British government has been blasphemed by industry activists and artists for failing to save the situation.

But Goodwon said the additional fees for the tour and other conditions were already a big loss for Britain. They hope that the government can provide financial assistance or make sure that art workers can tour music freely and are not hindered by visa status.

Now, musicians and crew hope that Boris Johnson and the government can at least perform or hold concerts as freely as before Brexit takes effect.