'Catastrophic': Extended lockdown puts live music at risk

A four-week delay to the government’s initial roadmap is predicted to cost the live music sector more than £500m, according to research carried out by live music industry body LIVE.

Theatres, concert halls, and festivals are in jeopardy, as producers and organisers were expecting to welcome back full audiences on 21 June. As it stands, socially distanced, and therefore reduced, audiences are permitted, but this is not financially viable for larger productions. Most shows need at least 70% of seats filled to break even.

Step 4 of the roadmap proposed that lockdown will be lifted and all legal limits on social contact removed. Nightclubs were expected to reopen, and restrictions on large events like weddings and performances would be lifted. 

The country will move to step 4 no earlier than 19 July.

Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, chief executive of UK Music, called the delay 'catastrophic', continuing, 'People across the industry have had June 21 circled in their calendar as the date they can finally get back to work after more than a year and make a living again. But that hope has now been crushed and their futures are shrouded in uncertainty at a time when they most need clarity. 

'There is a very real risk now of permanent damage to our sector in terms of a loss of talent and expertise – the live industry has warned there are 5,000 shows at risk of collapse, 250 grassroots music venues at risk of eviction and losses running at hundreds of millions of pounds.' 

We will continue to update this story as the government announces its plans.