Responding to the Prime Minister's roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions, UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin issued a statement:
“UK Music has consistently called for clarity and certainty from the Government, so it’s great that ministers have listened and set out a clear route to reopen the live music industry.
“It is fantastic news for the 200,000 people working in the music industry and millions of music fans that we are just a few months away from live music bursting back onto stages.
“Our world-leading live music scene - ranging from stadium and concert-hall filling acts to emerging solo performers in the local pub - will help lift people’s spirits and deliver a huge cultural and economic boost as we emerge from this pandemic.
“However, it is vital that our industry gets the continued economic support it needs to keep us going through to the point we can restart.
“The prospect of there being no legal impediments to live music events means issues like insurance are now even more pressing. They now present one of the final barriers to getting events going this summer.
“The industry has worked tirelessly with the Government to explore testing, better ventilation and many other innovative solutions to help lift the pause button, which has crippled our industry for the past year.
“We will now continue to work with the Government on pilot schemes to ensure a safe, consistent and successful approach to getting live music back in our communities as soon as possible.”
“While the astounding success of the vaccine rollout means the end of the health emergency is in sight, the economic toll of this pandemic will be with us for a long time to come – making dynamic growth industries like the UK music industry more important than ever.
“The music industry can play a key role in the post-pandemic economic and social recovery, and live music events could be the shot in the arm that Britain needs as we look to bounce back from this pandemic.”