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Government-Backed Insurance Scheme for Live Music Announced

Whilst we acknowledge the introduction of a Government-backed insurance scheme for live music, we reserve further comment until we know the schemes details.

Published: 05 August 2021 | 6:41 PM
Photograph of a double bass player performing on a stage alongside an electric guitarist with pink lights.
We have been calling for this throughout the Covid-19 crisis. We needed it sooner, but better late than never. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The MU acknowledges the introduction of a Government-backed insurance scheme for live music, which we hope will enable promoters and event organisers to plan with confidence and engage many more musicians for performances in the coming months.

Our next step will be to scrutinise the scheme and ensure it will cover our members' losses in the event of future lockdowns.

The major problem with the scheme is that the insurance does not cover a scenario where an event that is promoted without social distancing subsequently has social distancing imposed on it, and therefore becomes uneconomical to run and is cancelled.

We have joined others in the music industry, and particularly the live music and theatre sectors, in calling for this throughout the Covid-19 crisis. We needed it sooner, but better late than never. Without knowing the detail of the scheme we will reserve further comment until we are sure it will benefit our members.

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