Recovering our lost youth – let music be the language of Brexit love

Brexit Facts4EU.Org presents more facts for the UK’s young people, using music

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2023, Credits: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Elton photo), Jars McLucien, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (Taylor Swift photo), Bill Ebbesen, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Arctic Monkeys photo)

A report in our ‘Dare to Think Differently' series – Campaign to Re-Energise the UK’s Youth

One of the many ways that the Rejoin campaigns have targeted the UK’s young people is by using scare stories about music – something close to many young people’s hearts. In this report we show how the live music scene in Brexit Britain could not be more healthy or more vibrant.

To illustrate this we have chosen the largest music festival in the country: Glastonbury, and the biggest artist in the world today: Taylor Swift. We reveal the global diversity of the bands who came to entertain hundreds of thousands of music fans this summer. Brexit did not affect this – indeed it could be said that an outward-looking global Britain has even increased our international perspective.

Bands from all over the world entertained fans in Brexit Britain in June

Arctic Monkeys, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and Sir Elton John. Credit Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_Festival_2023

This year’s Glastonbury Festival took place from 21-25 June. The weather was fine and hundreds of thousands of British (and international) music fans enjoyed an astonishing variety of live music from around the world. Brexit did not prevent this in any way.

Hundreds of bands played at Glastonbury this year, from all over the world. This event is unequalled across Europe and many music fans from the continent made the trip.

Brexit hasn’t stopped Taylor Swift

The hottest tickets on sale in the UK this year appear to have been those for the USA’s Taylor Swift, for her tour here next year.

Ms Swift will be playing 13 dates in the UK, from Edinburgh to Liverpool to Cardiff to London. They sold out within hours. Brexit had no impact whatsoever.

It is worth noting that Taylor Swift is playing far more dates in the United Kingdom than in any EU country – by a long way. She is even closing her European tour by coming back to play three final dates at Wembley Stadium.

Image left - Credit: YouTube, Cosmopolitan UK by Creative Commons CC BY license

What about British bands and orchestras touring abroad?

If British bands want to tour the world outside the EU they are as free to do so as they were before Brexit. If they want to “conquer America” as so many have done - from the Beatles, to the Rolling Stones, to Sir Elton John, to Coldplay and Mumford & Sons more recently, they can do so.

When it comes to the stories about British bands and orchestras wanting to tour within the EU, it is true that they have had to fill out more paperwork and abide by more regulations. This, however, is solely because of the EU Commission’s hostile attitude to the newly-independent United Kingdom.

The blame for this lies at the door of the Berlaymont building in Brussels. If the Commission wanted to, they could make this far easier. They have chosen not to. The blame lies with the EU, not with Brexit.

Observations

Music is an international language. For the UK’s young people it has always been a vital ingredient in their lives. Our report above shows that Brexit hasn’t made a blind bit of difference to the variety and quality of live popular music on offer in the United Kingdom.

It has always been the case that some musicians have used their fame to make political statements. As with bankers, we would advise that they stay out of politics and stick to the day job – and certainly to stay out of Brexit.

The simple fact is that post-Brexit the UK’s music scene is as vibrant as it has ever been. The UK has always been the music capital of Europe and Brexit hasn’t changed this by a single note.

To celebrate, Facts4EU presents one of the highest-octane performances by a British band in the USA in the last few years, by Mumford & Sons.

Do you really want to cancel people with such talent?

The reason we chose this song is because the guitarist (and banjo player in the video below), Winston Marshall, used Twitter to praise a vaguely right-wing book by American journalist Andy Ngo, author of the New York Times Bestseller, Unmasked, in a very innocuous Tweet. He then got hit with thousands of appalling tweets by those opposed to this book, most of whom of course never actually read it.

As a consequence Winston decided to pull out of the band in order to protect his colleagues. The result is that the band is much poorer without him. Below we present them at their finest, with Winston on banjo.

We must get reports like this out there

Reports like the one above take far longer to research, write and produce than many people realise. If they were easy, readers would see other organisations also producing these daily. However, there’s little point in the Facts4EU.Org team working long hours, seven days-a-week, if we lack the resources to promote them effectively – to the public, to MPs, and to the media. This is where you come in, dear reader.

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[ Sources: Glastonbury Festival | YouTube | Taylor Swift ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 26 Jul 2023

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Reader Comments 22

1. Captain Thunderbolt , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 05:17:

I do find it ludicrous to suggest that musicians because they have to apply for a visa cannot afford them as suggested in some articles or online forums on the matter.
If the musician cannot afford a visa, how can they possibly afford to tour, no one seems to be able to answer this.

2. Sparky , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 07:00:

Its not the big stars like Elton John or Taylor Swift that this is causing problems for it is the smaller bands that are launching and developing their careers.
To tour in EU requires the fledgling bands to have significant logistical support and crews.
Te UK has developed a highly successful industry over the last few decades worth £111bn.
The increase in downloads has increased the need to tour.
Leaving the EU has made this more difficult and costly. Without Visas the bands and logistics are restricted to 90 days.
This isn't the EU being difficult it is the rules for any third country which you chose to become by leaving the EU.
Why the EU and not the rest of the world, because the EU is on our door step, its the first area to reach out to.
Another Brexit gift.

3. Paid Piper , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 08:30:

Appalling. This is an unsurprising new low. How is it that everyone but this site remember how the government refused to accept an open offer from the EU allowing visa-free travel? The rejection of that offer was because the government did not want to offer the same to EU musicians.
The youth remember this like it were yesterday. There are memes all over the internet, made by young people, mocking the Brexit voting artists who voted against their own interests. A commonly recurring theme with Brexit voters & the consequences they voted for but never thought would apply to them.
It will be interesting to see just how many of your responders share your selective amnesia. To many it won't matter at all that this is a total distortion of truth - that is exactly what they donate for.
“It is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but the UK said no,” an EU source close to the negotiations said.
The head of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) said she was “horrified” by the evidence that an offer on music was spurned.

4. LuxuryBalloon , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 09:04:

3 Paid Piper … the young will thank us for taking them out of the EU.

5. NH , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 09:26:

3. Paid Piper , "We tried to include it, but the UK said no,” an EU source close to the negotiations said"
Does this source have a name so we can check these claims or does he / she prefer to be an "unnamed source" for their own reasons ?
.
The UK government seems to dispute the EU's version of events completely and they give full details in official documents. For EU musicians who want to work in the UK they refer to
.
"Permitted Visa Arrangement"
Temporary Work-Creative Visa Concession"
"Permit Free Festivals"
.
Unlike the UK the EU seems to be remarkable quiet on what they would require to improve this situation. I hope everything will be resolved but having experienced how keen the EU are to use manipulation and false information for their own ends I am not optimistic.

6. NH , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 10:01:

4. LuxuryBalloon , "the young will thank us for taking them out of the EU."
.
This issue does not effect the vast majority of UK youngsters. As described above they can still watch EU musicians in the UK. It's EU youngsters who will not be able to watch UK bands, unless they travel to the UK. It's the EU that is refusing to offer reciprocal arrangements so they are deciding what the EU young will be able to watch. This is a restriction because they are in the EU.

7. Sparky , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 10:45:

Facts4EU is trying to make out the issue is that musicians are still coming to UK despite Brexit. This is not the issue.
The issue is that continued success of the highly successful UK music industry is being limited by Brexit because of restricted access to Europe. What age group need that success to be available, the youth.
No the youth won’t thank you for Brexit, they will resent you.
.
Brexit was won on slogans and false promises, and you fell for it!

8. Captain Thunderbolt , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:16:

Yep, it's the EU being difficult which is the norm.
-
Who needs a visa to work in Europe?
Citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, as well as EU citizens do not need to apply for a work visa to Europe.
Citizens of other countries must apply and get an employment visa before entering the Schengen territories for work purposes.
**
3. Paid Piper
Appalling. This is an unsurprising new low. How is it that everyone but this site remember how the government refused to accept an open offer from the EU allowing visa-free travel? The rejection of that offer was because the government did not want to offer the same to EU musicians.
-
Errr no.....What was proposed by the EU in the draft agreement was for Article MOBI.4: Visa-free travel
1. The Parties shall provide for reciprocal visa-free travel for citizens of the Union and citizens of the United Kingdom when travelling to the territory of the other party for short stays of a maximum duration as defined in the Parties’ domestic legislation, which shall be at least 90 days in any 180-day period.
2. Member States may individually decide to impose a visa requirement on citizens of the United Kingdom carrying out a paid activity during their short-term visit…
For that category of persons, the United Kingdom may decide to impose a visa requirement on the citizens of each Member State individually, in accordance with its domestic legislation.
-
Which meant that EU and UK citizens could have done any paid work, without a visa, in each other’s territories for up to 90 days in any 180 days which in general terms was "freedom of movement" for up to 90 days for any type of work, it was not aimed at musicians/artists. it was Brussels attempt to keep in some form freedom of movement.
There was scope for a deal on a visa similar to AU visa Temporary Activity Visa which covered most job criteria within the entertainment industry but neither side brought it up.

9. Captain Thunderbolt , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:22:

7. Sparky , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:45:
Facts4EU is trying to make out the issue is that musicians are still coming to UK despite Brexit. This is not the issue.
The issue is that continued success of the highly successful UK music industry is being limited by Brexit because of restricted access to Europe. What age group need that success to be available, the youth.
No the youth won’t thank you for Brexit, they will resent you.
-
The issue here is the UK saw a problem which it could adjust on the UK side of the border, and the EU in all its rhetoric in being a worker's paradise has not.

10. Sparky , Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 11:51:

9 CT. The issue is that the UK music industry, and mainly UK youth, are missing out because of Brexit. Another example of damage to UK economy caused by Brexit.

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