Hot Chip, Rina Sawayama, Steam Down and IDLES back the FAC & MMF’s #LetTheMusicMove campaign - urging the UK Government to act on US Visa charges
The groundswell of opposition to proposed increases in US visa costs for international artists is growing, with Rina Sawayama joining members of Hot Chip, IDLES and Steam Down adding their voices to the calls for the UK Government to intervene.
All are backing #LetTheMusicMove, a campaign instigated by the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF).
Originally created in June 2021 to fight for reductions in post-Brexit costs and red tape for UK artists and musicians when touring in Europe, #LetTheMusicMove was expanded following a recent announcement by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which would result in stratospheric increases to filing fees attached to specific visa applications - including O and P artists visas.
Under these proposals, the cost of artists visas - which already run into thousands of pounds - would increase by more than 250%.
In the midst of the ongoing cost of living crisis and with the live sector still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, it would make performing in the world’s biggest music market unaffordable for many emerging and mid-level artists.
Rina Sawayama
“After what we’ve been through with Brexit and the pandemic, the implications of these new visa proposals are incredibly worrying for all artists wanting to travel and perform in the US. I travel with 15+ crew on a tight margin, and any increase in costs sadly gets passed onto concert goers through higher ticket prices, which is not fair. Live music should be democratic and accessible and this is just another blow to the arts sector and the experience of concert goers.
“Britain is renowned for its hugely profitable musical exports, however with pointless and costly restrictions such as these, British artists will struggle to make a name for themselves in the US, which would be a huge shame. I’m calling on the UK Government to oppose these changes.”
Ahnansé, Steam Down
"Steam Down have performed at shows and festivals across the UK, Europe and Latin America, and this year we are hugely excited to be travelling to Austin, Texas for SXSW - one of the biggest stages and showcase events in the world. For a 10-piece music collective, such events are logistically challenging at the best of times, but these new visa proposals would effectively shut the door on projects like ours.”
Adam Devonshire, IDLES
“As a fledgling musician, you dream of being able to go on tour in the states. This increase is putting the viability of this dream out of reach for so many, that we need to shout and holler from the rooftops about what a tragedy this would be for so many hard working and talented musicians across the globe. ”
Alexis Taylor, Hot Chip
“Performing in the US has been one of the most important - and significant and enjoyable - aspects of touring for our band. We’ve been lucky enough to do it for the last 15 or more years. It helped us reach and then, over time, be supported by a very loyal and ever-growing audience. It’s probably the biggest territory in the world for us as a band. To make it almost impossible for bands to afford to tour the US when coming from overseas is unthinkable, and will derail so many careers, as well as not allowing new ones to start properly, and will stop fans from being able to connect with live music from bands that they love. It seems like a completely destructive approach and many bands will get together to lobby to prevent this change.”
The DHS and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services have opened a comment period until March 6th, 2023, allowing the public, including those from overseas to send feedback which will then be reviewed and further adjustments considered.
In response, the MMF and FAC are calling on artists, musicians, performers and their business representatives to commit to three simple actions:
Sign up to the #LetTheMusicMove campaign
Complete a short questionnaire on the proposed changes and their potential impacts. The results will be presented to the UK Government as we urge them to lobby the DHS
Complete the US consultation and contact your US booking agent or live representative and also encourage them to submit feedback to the official process.
With over 100 British artists and bands preparing to travel to Austin, Texas for SXSW, the world’s preeminent showcase festival of new music, the timing of the consultation is particularly significant.
The British presence at SXSW, which takes place from March 13th-18th, is always hugely significant. Excluding North American acts, more British artists will perform at more official SXSW showcases in 2023 than the rest of the world put together.
Artists playing at the British Music Embassy include Yazmin Lacey, Sports Team, SIPHO, Obongjayar, Miraa May, Hamish Hawk, The Goa Express, English Teacher, Crawlers and Brooke Combe.
However, under the new DHS proposals, the US touring plans of many UK and international artists would be placed under threat. According to a survey of UK music managers and artists by the MMF and FAC, 70% said that the proposed increase in visa costs would make touring unviable in the USA. For the remainder, it is estimated that the increased costs would reduce any potential profits from touring by almost 40%.
Yesterday, music trade body UK Music, published a letter to Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, urging the Government to intervene and support the livelihoods of British artists and music makers.
“British artists comprise the largest international delegation at this year’s SXSW reflecting the love of American audiences of British music. Travelling out to Austin is already expensive enough, but these proposed increases to visa costs would make touring unaffordable for the majority. It would have a catastrophic effect on attendances in future years and effectively shut down what is a vital gateway to the US music market.” - David Martin, CEO, FAC and Annabella Coldrick, CEO, MMF
More than 1,000 artists originally backed the #LetTheMusicMove campaign, including Little Mix, Orbital, Olly Murs, Sampha, Sleaford Mods, Alison Moyet, Nubian Twist, Bicep, AlunaGeorge, Niall Horan, Wolf Alice, Annie Lennox, Biffy Clyro, IDLES, Poppy Ajudha, Radiohead, Anna Calvi, Skunk Anansie, Laura Marling, Faithless, Everything Everything, Graeme Park, Bob Geldof, Katie Melua, Editors, Mark Knopfler, Two Door Cinema Club, Mr Scruff, Kelli-Leigh, Ward Thomas, New Order, Rick Astley, Ghostpoet, Midge Ure, Glasvegas, Anna Meredith, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Nina Nesbitt, Keane, Erland Cooper, The Chemical Brothers, Matthew Herbert, Portishead, Blur’s David Rowntree, Gilles Peterson, Jack Garratt, Dave Okumu, Bill Ryder-Jones, Peggy Seeger, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and many, many others.