ArtsPay

Half of UK musicians are either "extremely" or "very" concerned they'll be forced to leave the industry over the next six months due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, a study has found.

A survey by charity Help Musicians found that the cost-of-living crisis is impacting musicians more than the pandemic with 60% saying they are earning less than they were a year ago, and eight out of 10 saying they earn less than before the pandemic. 

The survey, which garnered responses from more than 500 professional musicians, revealed that the situation is having a severe impact on their mental health, with 88% saying that poor mental health is currently negatively impacting their career.

Most are also in a "cost-of-working" crisis, with 91% unable to afford music equipment, while energy and fuel costs are making travelling to gigs and heating rehearsal spaces impossible for many. 

Nearly all UK musicians (98%) are concerned about earning enough income in the next six months, with 90% worried about affording food and 84% concerned about paying their mortgage or rent. This has led to half of UK musicians "extremely" or "very" concerned they'll be forced to leave the industry.

James Ainscough, Chief Executive of Help Musicians said: “It is hard to imagine any point since the Second World War when it has been tougher to be a professional musician - put simply, the current environment is brutal. 

"The pandemic had a catastrophic impact, with most simply unable to perform. Afterwards, venues were booked up for months or years in advance due to rearranged gigs. This has been followed by Brexit, which has impacted their ability to tour, for many emerging musicians a vital step in building a sustainable career. 

“It is clear from the responses to this survey, that musicians need a broad range of support to help them navigate financial challenges of working and living over winter, make the most of touring opportunities, and improve their mental health. 

“We need to put significant time and resource into sustaining musicians over the coming, challenging months, if we are to have a thriving music ecosystem in 2023 and beyond. We cannot afford to lose any of the talent from our passionate community of UK musicians if we want to continue enjoying the music that inspires us all every day.”

University of the Arts London (UAL) says its new parental pay and leave policy is sector leading.

The new policy, introduced at the start of October, offers an equal package of 26 weeks of full maternity or paternity pay to staff irrespective of gender, sexual orientation or how people become parents.

The institution has also reduced its continuous service requirement from 12 months to 26 weeks.

UAL says its new policy was guided by feedback and consultations with staff and trade unions and is supported by an “abundance of evidence” outlining how equal parental leave benefits parents, children, and the economy.

Research from the International Labour Office outlines that generous and non-gender specific paternal leave and pay is one of the most important indirect ways of closing the gender pay gap.

UAL Chief Social Purpose Officer Polly Mackenzie said: “At the heart of UAL’s social purpose strategy is a commitment to pioneer changes that can help solve society’s problems.   

“We hope this move will inspire other organisations to introduce equal parental leave and contribute to a country in which gender no longer determines your earning potential.” 

PRS for Music has announced a record-breaking £211m royalty distribution to members, marking the highest ever single payment in its 108-year history.

The organisation, which represents the rights of over 160,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the UK and around the world, pays royalties to its members four times a year - in in April, July, October and December.

It said the October 2022 payout represented an 18% year-on-year increase on October 2021. 

“The record payment of royalties by PRS for Music reflects our relentless focus on maximising the value of members’ rights," Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music, said.

"Ensuring members are paid as quickly and accurately is at the heart of everything we do." 

Employers that cancel productions during the mourning period should honour contracts with workers, performers' union Equity has said.

In issuing guidance for members working in live performance during the mourning period, Equity said that because venues and event organisers are not obliged to cancel events/performances, the period of national mourning cannot be treated as "force majeure" - whereby one or both parties are excused from a contract because of circumstances beyond their control.

"Therefore, contracts should be honoured except where both parties agree otherwise," the union said.

Equity added that as the day of the funeral will be a bank holiday, members who are required to work should check the terms of their contracts carefully to establish if further payments will be due to them for working on a public holiday.