Published
Thu, Dec 20, 2018, 17:11
- The new "skills-based" immigration system would require a salary minimum of £30,000.
The UK Music and the Incorporated Society Of Musicians industry trade organisations are calling the proposed UK immigration policy "utterly clueless."
The home secretary Sajid Javid announced a new "skills-based" immigration system for a post-Brexit UK, which would mark the end of free movement throughout the European Union. It is intended to "favour experience and talent over nationality." This new system would require applicants to earn a minimum of £30,000 in order to qualify for the visa.
Complete Music Update reports that music industry trade bodies are coming out against the published white paper. ISM's chief executive Deborah Annetts issued a statement, saying the new immigration system and £30,000 minimum salary will have "a devastating impact on British musicians," and "will cause declining diversity and creativity in the British music industry."
UK Music furthered Annetts' comments with its own statement, also targeting the salary requirements, writing that it "poses a major threat to the music industry where music creators earn on average £20,504—way below the average for other jobs."
CEO Michael Dugher describes the real-world consequences of a policy like this: "We risk limiting the ability for European musicians to play in our world-leading festivals, venues and studios... This is how they build an audience and frankly make any kind of living from music."
Both groups suggested alternatives to alleviate the burden on musicians, such as a "two-year multi-entry touring visa for musicians," according to Annetts, or another form of touring visa-waiver.
Dugher warns that the move could backfire. "If this approach is reciprocated by the EU and there is no visa-waiver in place, we risk making it very hard, if not impossible, for so many UK artists to tour in [the] EU."