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  According to the Five Percent For Festivals official website, the campaign is solely funded by “contributions from those wanting to support the music festival sector.” This means they are asking for anyone who can donate to do so, and also have a section on the website where the public can find out who is their local MP and how to contact them. The campaign hopes to gain support by contacting MPs by writing a letter asking for change in the VAT amount on festival tickets. They also ask site visitors to download and share the campaign assets and share them with others. Assets include shareable images to promote the campaign on various social media platforms, and downloadable logos, presumably for promotion or advertising purposes. They also have a sign up section to allow continual updates on the situation.    

 

 

 

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AIF is a UK based non for profit organisation that represents many of the UKs independent music festivals. The Five Percent For Festivals initiative is just one part of the wider picture of what they do for the festival industry. According to their website, their four main aims are growing membership, providing a network of promoters to allow festival organisers to connect,  government lobbying (which the Five Percent For Festivals campaign is a part of), and festival congress. Currently they represent over 150 festivals and claim to have the UK’s biggest gathering of independent festivals for their festival congress.

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This summer, it was reported that 60 UK festivals had been shut down or cancelled. In a comment earlier this year, the CEO of AIF, John Rostron, said, “The number of festivals forced to cancel, postpone or shut down entirely in 2024, largely because of unpredictable costs and a credit crunch within the sector, shows no signs of slowing”. This all comes at a time where many sectors of the UK music industry are struggling, from independent venues, and events to the nightlife and nightclubs. The Autumn Budget further exacerbates these issues due to the lack of funding, despite over 60 nightclubs closing down in what has been dubbed an ‘unprecedented crisis’.  It’s widely agreed that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt, and the financial climate in the UK means independent festivals, as well as the wider UK music scene, are affected.

In a more recent interview, Rostron commented: “We really are at a critical point for the UK’s festival sector… Five years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine that promoters would have to endure something as damaging as the Covid-19 pandemic – but many of them did, without passing the inevitable cost onto the consumer.  To think that, since then, they have had to manage the effects of Brexit, war in Ukraine, inflation and an energy crisis is staggering. That festival-goers were able to enjoy some of the fantastic events they did in 2023 is testament to the resilience and passion of those promoters.”

The situation has yet to improve, with festivals like Readipop already being cancelled for 2025, and the list is likely to rise. The importance of campaigns like Five Percent For Festivals have never been as integral as they are right now.

Since the “Stand” video was originally released, the war in Ukraine broke out. The lyrics, which had nothing to do with war, seemed to speak directly to the invasion, so we recut it. PLEASE WATCH!https://t.co/6WGc4SnnKW #We’ReNotGonnaTakeIt #TheTruth #TheMessage #WorldUnitedLive

— Dee Snider (@deesnider) March 24, 2022

The Twisted Sister frontman first initiated his involvement when he became aware of a musical connection; his megahit “We’re Not Gonna Take It” is now heralded as an anthem after being used by the people of Ukraine as a source of comfort and resilience. With lyrical themes of freedom and strength, the classic track has been adopted as a call to arms for those affected by the tragic struggle. Snider swiftly connected with World United Live and placed himself at the forefront of the urgent campaign.

 

 

 

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Snider provides the full story in his own words, “About a month ago, someone on social media told me people in Ukraine were using Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as a battle cry and asked if I was cool with it. Of course, I was. My response elicited someone asking me why I was okay with Ukrainians using my song and not some other groups. I won’t repeat my exact response (it was a bit political), but that tweet went internationally viral. Every news agency in the world suddenly wanted to talk to me.”

The 67-year-old artist continues “At that very moment, some great people (who were all friends of mine) were hatching the idea for World United Live and asked me if I would spearhead the organization. How could I say no? Since then, we have been beating the drum for the free world to come together, not only in support of Ukraine and condemnation of Putin, but in sending a message to the Russian people that they are misinformed and not being told the truth. Now, with the help of the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and many others, we are doing just that!”

The singer-songwriter proceeds to describe the origins and steps taken to release the video.  “About a week ago, it hit me that the song “Stand” from my last Napalm Records album, Leave a Scar, fit the crisis in Ukraine perfectly… but I had already released a video for “Stand” recently.  Yet I just couldn’t get around how well the lyrics resonated with Putin’s attack on these innocent people. Ukraine was the furthest thing from my mind when I wrote the words for that song, yet it was like I had done just that. So, I had a couple of incredibly talented people (Scott Pitek and Steve Sage Goldberg) cut together a new video using some live concert footage and news clips. The result is devastating. Please watch and share “Stand (With Ukraine)” and join us at www.worldunited.live. Help save the world. Together we can.”

World Unite Live is an organisation that consists of supporters from various professions and backgrounds, and all involved share the sole goal of raising awareness and aid for the people in Ukraine. The platform coordinates its supporters and utilises their influence to generate and rally support for the current Russian-Ukraine conflict.

The organisation is currently organising a worldwide concert, a statement on the website provides an emotive description for the event, “A worldwide concert event to raise money and provide support for the brave people of Ukraine. In addition, a campaign to use the voices of artists to speak on our behalf to the people of Russia. There is no later, time is of the essence. If we do not stand up now and if Ukraine falls it is too late and evil entrenches itself. We must act together today to send this message. The alternative is World War and mass suffering. Your involvement in this event can truly change the course of the world. Are you with us? Do you stand with freedom loving people everywhere? We beseech you to be our voice, to carry our message to peoples in Ukraine and in Russia upon whom this struggle will fall. We want people in villages, cities, squares, parks, and arenas around the world to be out in the streets. This is the only way change will come, when we can all unite and tell despots and dictators that “We’re NOT Gonnna Take It!”.”

The video and track have been released exclusively via the World Unite Live website, click here to watch “Stand (for Ukraine)” and learn more about the organisation.

The Government’s failure in negotiating a free travel visa for UK and Europe for those who are touring – musicians and crews – continues to pose a problem for the industry. With no visible end in sight, it is very likely that touring acts will face huge costs of travel for future live music concerts, further developing the gap between emerging talents and big established acts. The UK Government recently rejected a petition, signed by over 280 thousand people and receiving overwhelming public support, calling them to negotiate visa-free tours for artists and crew.

Skin, frontwoman of the iconic band Skunk Anansie, explained: “EU touring and the need to get the right processes in place for simple and economical access to Europe is crucial at this time more than ever. “It is the lifeblood of bands and artists, not just financially, but in order to expand their fanbase and deliver their art to a wider audience. EU touring also opens up the windows of touring on a global scale with surrounding countries and continents, with the knock-on effect of the impact that bands and artists have that tour there. We need action, we need support, we need access, and we need it now!”

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree added: “Blur played our first gig outside the UK in Rotterdam in February 1991. We just jumped on a ferry with no restrictions for us or our gear. That August we were back in the Netherlands, followed by dates in Germany, France and then on into a full European tour. If we were starting out today trying to do the same, there would be a vast range of bureaucracy and costs, with different regimes in every country. We simply wouldn’t be able to afford it. The UK Government has to take this issue seriously and support touring artists. The future of British music is at stake.”

To try to fix the problem, the campaign calls upon the Government to deliver, along with many other points, a viable and long term plan for UK artists and crew to continue working without extra costs and bureaucracy, an urgent transitional package and measures to overcome the restrictive vehicle rules. To support and know more about the campaign, visit here.

The campaign is run by the Musician’s Union and  Music Producers’ Guild, and argues that services such as Apple Music and Spotify should be legislated in a similar way to the radio, which would mean that artists receive fairer compensation for their work. Currently, the royalty rates for streaming service are decided by individual companies, and the artist in question either receives them directly or through their label. Radio royalties on the other hand are paid via a performing rights organisation, which guarantees a fair, consistent amount is paid.

As printed in NME, the campaign letter states that “The law has not kept up with the pace of technological change and, as a result, performers and songwriters do not enjoy the same protections as they do in radio… Today’s musicians receive very little income from their performances – most featured artists receive tiny fractions of a US cent per stream and session musicians receive nothing at all.” It goes on to say that the change in regulations “won’t cost the taxpayer a penny but will put more money in the pockets of UK taxpayers and raise revenues for public services like the NHS.”

The campaign received its most significant support yet this month as UN Agency The World Intellectual Property Organisation stated that “streaming remuneration likely should be considered consideration for a communication to the public right.” 

The campaign has been gathering steam for the past couple of months, and today has gained major names amongst its signatories. The most recent supporters include The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Emeli Sande and Jarvis Cocker, who join the ranks of Paul McCartney, Kate Bsh and others who signed at the campaign’s inception.

An extraordinary list becomes ever more extraordinary.

The signatories to the letter we’ve sent to @BorisJohnson today.

156 becomes 234. #BrokenRecord pic.twitter.com/HYnCkYuEWu

— Tom Gray #BrokenRecord (@MrTomGray) June 7, 2021

CARM released the official music video for Land today via YouTube and other social-media platforms. The video features CARM sitting in nature on a stool and seemingly waiting for something, checking his watch over and over again. A symbol no doubt of the times. Bon Iver’s vocals mixed with CARM’s trumpet duetting all throughout make for a calming and nearly nostalgic sound.

While Vernon and CARM have collaborated before on multiple Bon Iver albums, Vernon has made his debut this year as a feature solo artist on many famous new tracks. Japanese House released the single Dionne in August with a feature from Vernon and Swamp Dogg’s Sleeping Without You is Such a Dragg had the pleasure of working with Bon Iver’s lead singer in January at the beginning of the year.

The most famous collaboration Vernon has participated in during the 2020 year however was his work on Taylor Swift’s newest released album Folklore. The fourth track off Swift’s surprise album, Exile, features Bon Iver in a soulful duet that rose to the top of the charts quickly after it’s release.

Vernon has continued to release new singles with band Bon Iver in 2020 on top of the multiple features on other artist’s singles and albums. Bon Iver’s most recent upbeat track, AUATC, has been widely received since it’s August release however there has been no announcements as to whether there will be an album to follow.

Vernon has played live events during the 2020 calendar year in an attempt to campaign for the democratic party for presidential election in the United States of America. He debuted Bon Iver’s new single Things Behind Things Behind Things during a primary event for Bernie Sanders this April and he continues to encourage voting on all social platforms. After the death of the American supreme court judge Ruth Bader-Ginsburg, Vernon wrote and performed a song in tribute to her called Your Honor as part of the For Wisconsin voting initiative event.

Land is now another feature in the long line of work that Justin Vernon has done throughout the 2020 year. Whether it be political, or in Land‘s case, pushing the music industry forward with high quality instrumentation, Vernon is certainly busy despite the global pandemic and it’s setbacks. Vernon’s the front-man of the famous indie band Bon Iver and they are just as busy with scheduled tour dates to perform their latest singles and 2019 album I,I late in the 2021 calendar.

Bon Iver UK and Ireland Tour Dates:

24/10/2021 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
25/10 – The SSE HYDRO – Glasgow
27/10 – Manchester Arena – Manchester
29/10 – 3Arena – Dublin
01/11 – SSE Arena Wembley – London (SOLD OUT)

“Passport: Back to Our Roots is a nationwide series of one-off intimate gigs by the UK’s biggest artists, supporting the independent grassroots venues that form the foundations of the UK’s live music scene”, a statement on the campaign’s website reads.

The one-off shows are giving you the “exclusive opportunity to watch the biggest artists play their smallest gigs – live and in person like they should be – while making a huge difference to the UK’s crisis-stricken grassroots music venues, who need urgent help due to COVID-19 closures.”

COMING SOON! Passport: Back to Our Roots is a nationwide series of one-off intimate gigs by the UK’s biggest artists, supporting the independent grassroots venues that form the foundations of the UK’s live music scene.

Sign up now to find out more >> https://t.co/7fe8mRUzRT pic.twitter.com/tvNTJKQoWr

— Passport: Back to Our Roots (@passportgigs) June 20, 2020

The initiative has been formed by the Music Venue Trust, Band on the Wall and Stephen Budd Music. It has invited artists to nominate a venue that holds personal significance to them, otherwise the campaign will pair them with one of the participating venues. Artists and show dates haven’t been confirmed yet, but according to the website, there are news coming next Monday, August 3.

“Some names you’ll know. Some places you’ll care about. Some experiences you won’t want to miss”, the project is teasing in an Instagram caption from a post made yesterday, July 27. However, an hour ago (at around 12pm, 28.07.) another Instagram post appeared with the slogan “it’s all gonna be magnificent” and a matching caption that reads “We can’t help ourselves. We’re going to be dropping a few clues this week. ⁠” Who knows, we might get to see some real A-list names on the project’s socials soon.

The campaign evolved due to a lack of indication from the government regarding music gigs and festivals taking place any time soon which has caused a huge concern for musicians across the country. Despite other countries announcing gigs going ahead, such as Malta’s Escape 2 the Island which is set to take place at the end of August, the UK have been kept in the dark. The unknown is a cause for concern as many in the industry are afraid they may lose their jobs.

Moving forward, UK Music has asked the government for 3 key things:
‘1. A clear conditional timeline for reopening venues without social distancing
2. An immediate comprehensive business and employment support package and access to finance.
3. Full VAT exemption on ticket sales.’

Big names across the country have signed an open letter as an urgent call for support to protect the 200,000 jobs which are in danger of a potential loss. Artists such as Paul McCartney, Little Mix and Kasabian took to Twitter in order to spread the #letthemusicplay campaign to their millions of followers.

In a plea to the government, Kasabian tweeted ‘The UK’s music industry contributes over £5bn to the economy and live music is its heart and soul, we’re calling on the Government to help our industry and protect jobs and the live music scene #letthemusicplay.’

The UK’s music industry contributes over £5bn to the economy and live music is its heart and soul, we’re calling on the Government to help our industry and protect jobs and the live music scene #letthemusicplay: @neilbedford pic.twitter.com/uZGxP56cqS

— KasabianHQ (@KasabianHQ) July 2, 2020

Other big names in the industry also took to the platform, such as former One Direction member, Niall Horan, who created a short Twitter thread to educate his fans on the situation.

Live gigs and festivals can’t happen without incredible hardworking teams behind the scenes, but without gigs all of those people are out of jobs and the live music industry is at risk. Today, we call on the UK government to offer their support. #LetTheMusicPlay pic.twitter.com/4v2gdMSlBj

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) July 2, 2020

Although, it isn’t only artists who have taken to social media to spread the word as the campaign has encouraged everyone to share an image or video of the final concert they attended with #letthemusicplay on Twitter. As the campaign continues to grow, music fans across the country are patiently waiting in hope of some support from the government.