The future of UK music festivals

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 6 Nov 2020 Closed: 17 Aug 2021 Parliament page
MPs will examine what support is needed for UK music festivals to return in 2021, as they consider the economic and cultural impact of festivals across the country. With the vast majority of festivals cancelled in 2020 owing to COVID-19, the sector’s revenues have dropped by 90%. The predominantly freelance … Read more
9 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
17 Aug
2021
Report published
29 May
2021
Report published
27 Apr
2021
Correspondence
24 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
16 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
26 Feb
2021
Correspondence
2 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
7 Jan
2021
Correspondence
5 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
24 Mar 2021
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Caroline Dinenage MP · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Victoria MacCallum · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
16 Mar 2021
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Assistant Chief Constable Justin Bibby · Staffordshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin · National Police Chiefs' Council Professor Carly McLachlan · The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Professor Fiona Measham · The Loop Robert Del Naja
2 Feb 2021
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Dr Andrew Smith Duncan Bell · WeMakeEvents Matthew Phillip · Notting Hill Carnival Ltd Rowan Cannon · Wild Rumpus Tre Stead
5 Jan 2021
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Anna Wade · Boomtown Fair Jamie Njoku-Goodwin · UK Music Paul Reed · Association of Independent Festivals Sacha Lord · Parklife and The Warehouse Project Steve Heap · Association of Festival Organisers
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - The future of UK music festivals HC 49 29 May 2021 14 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
9 Conclusion Accepted in Part
First Report - The future of UK mu…
The UK-EU trade and co-operation deal threatens not only the vibrancy of the UK’s festivals...
The UK-EU trade and co-operation deal threatens not only the vibrancy of the UK’s festivals but the music industry as a whole. The cost and complication of moving people and equipment between the UK and EU will make it less … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the challenges for touring artists post-Brexit and reiterates its efforts to secure bespoke arrangements with individual EU Member States. It is establishing a new DCMS-led working group, producing new guidance, and considering an Export Office to provide practical help to the creative industries.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - The future of UK mu…
Despite the good intentions and countless initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts of festivals, the...
Despite the good intentions and countless initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts of festivals, the growth of the market has undermined the sector’s efforts to reduce overall emissions, and the legacy of the pandemic presents a further threat to those … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees with the goal of supporting emissions reduction and will work with DEFRA and MHCLG to explore incorporating strict environmental measures into local authority licensing frameworks for festivals. They also acknowledge current industry efforts and urge organisers to continue progress.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report - The future of UK mu…
We recommend that before the 2023 festival season the Government, the Local Government Association and...
We recommend that before the 2023 festival season the Government, the Local Government Association and representatives from across the festival sector develop standardised environmental objectives that local authorities must adopt when licensing festivals, and that local authorities should report back … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees with supporting emissions reduction and will explore with DEFRA and MHCLG the proposal to include strict environmental measures within local authority licensing frameworks for festivals. They also acknowledge existing industry sustainability efforts.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 9 classified
Accepted 1
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 1
Not Addressed 5
Rejected 4
Total 9 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
27 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for DCMS, re Extension of pilot scheme and associated liabilities to large events this summer, 27 April 2021
Parliament page
26 Feb 2021 To committee Letter from John Glen MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, re festivals, 8 February 2021
Parliament page
7 Jan 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, re festivals, 6 January 2021
Parliament page