"We are clear that alongside this funding there needs to be support for individual freelancers who are not eligible for the SEISS.". Photo: Shutterstock
Jo Stevens criticised the fact that freelancers were not mentioned at the launch of the scheme, expressing concern that the DCMS does not fully understand the nature of the work that self-employed musicians and performers do. She also directly challenged the Minister to ask the Chancellor to extend the SEISS and furlough schemes until venues are able to reopen at full capacity.
The number of freelancers who are not eligible for SEISS was a point also raised by John Nicholson from the SNP as well as a number of other MPs. The Minister assured the House of Commons that they have been working with the sector to plug these gaps, but this is something that the MU is challenging.
It is clear that individual freelancers need support
Horace Trubridge MU General Secretary says:
“We welcome this package, but we are clear that alongside this funding there needs to be support for individual freelancers who are not eligible for the SEISS.
“The Government has repeatedly said that the SEISS covers the majority of the self-employed, but we know that 38% of our members do not qualify for either the SEISS or the furlough scheme and have been left with nothing.
“If the Minister has been consulting with the sector to plug these gaps, then it is not the Musicians’ Union that she has been speaking to and we would very much welcome a discussion about how we can adjust and extend these schemes to support the UK’s musicians and ensure that they survive this difficult time.”
No musician should be left to fall through the cracks
Musicians lost over £21m in the first ten days of lockdown alone. Over 90% told us they had been affected. Four months later, 38% musicians still do not qualify for Government support - going up to 53% for theatre musicians - and 19% are considering abandoning music altogether.
It is vital that the Government provides support musicians and the music industry.
Our key asks for the Government are to:
- Close the gaps in the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
- Extend support for arts, culture and entertainment workers after October
- Support safe ways of working like live music events with social distancing applied
- Cover shortfalls in ticket money due to social distancing so that theatres and venues survive
- Undertake a government review of streaming royalty distribution