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
5 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - The future of UK mu…
With only 8% of festivals applying for the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund,...
With only 8% of festivals applying for the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund, and those that were successful receiving just 1.3% of the available grants, the Government’s flagship investment in the arts was of limited benefit to the … Read more
Government Response
The Government highlights its comprehensive financial support for the festival sector during the pandemic, including over £21 million awarded to music festivals from the final round of the Culture Recovery Fund, but does not specifically address the committee's conclusion about lessons to be learned regarding engagement with festivals.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The future of UK mu…
We repeat our call for the Government to introduce a time-limited insurance scheme for costs...
We repeat our call for the Government to introduce a time-limited insurance scheme for costs incurred by live events scheduled to take place after 21 June that may have to cancel if there is a need for, or return to, … Read more
Government Response
The Government acknowledges challenges for touring and commits to continue working closely with creative industries and keeping them informed, but does not commit to introducing a time-limited insurance scheme for event cancellations due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - The future of UK mu…
The success of the vaccine rollout and the target date announced during our inquiry under...
The success of the vaccine rollout and the target date announced during our inquiry under the Government’s roadmap for lifting lockdown gave hope to many that festivals will be able to take place this summer. However, the lifting of all … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses supporting festivals on emissions targets and environmental measures in licensing, which does not address the committee's conclusion regarding the Events Research Programme and the need for further festival pilots.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The future of UK mu…
While our preference remains for a comprehensive sector-wide insurance scheme, we recommend, in the absence...
While our preference remains for a comprehensive sector-wide insurance scheme, we recommend, in the absence of such a scheme, a targeted intervention that extends the Events Research Programme and associated liabilities to a range of additional pilot events, including festivals … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses on tackling drug misuse, including its stance on front-of-house and back-of-house drug testing at festivals, which does not address the recommendation for extending the Events Research Programme to additional pilot events.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - The future of UK mu…
Festival supply chains and freelance workers cannot sustain another year with little to no income.
Festival supply chains and freelance workers cannot sustain another year with little to no income. Continued uncertainty about whether events will go ahead or a significant reduction in the number that do go ahead this summer will make it harder … Read more
Government Response
The government's response addresses measures to crack down on unacceptable behaviour in the ticketing market, which does not engage with the committee's concern about the financial sustainability of festival supply chains and freelance workers.
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