British Musician Loses £ 13.9 Million As A Result Of COVID-19

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JAKARTA - Musicians across the UK have suffered an estimated £ 13.9 million in losses as a direct result of COVID-19 or the coronavirus, a new survey claims.

The Musicians' Union (MU), which has more than 32,000 members, surveyed about 4,100 members - with ninety percent of respondents confirming their income had been affected.

Speaking to The Guardian, MU secretary general Horace Trubridge outlined an emergency fund of £ 200 to be given to unemployed musicians.

He explained: “We hope this fund can provide a little help to our members, but we desperately need the government to provide clarity about what broader support they provide, and we are asking the recording industry to play its part. too."

Last week, the Union of Entertainment Federation, which consists of the Musicians Union, Prospects, Equality, National Journalists Union and the United Kingdom Writers Union, also asked the government to introduce income guarantees for freelancers and self-employed workers employed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Music Venue Trust also asked the British government to cancel the Festival Of Britain and use the funds to save the future of British grassroots culture amid the coronavirus crisis.

In an open letter and a new petition, the Music Venue Trust called on the government to immediately announce legal steps to temporarily close venues amid the coronavirus outbreak, cancel the planned Festival Of Britain for 2022, and reallocate the money to fund art spaces in the country. the middle of this difficult period.

A fundraiser has also been launched, allowing people to buy virtual drinks as donations to independent venues that have been hard hit by the spread of the coronavirus.