Naomi Smith: Last News

NME about how the first summer of post-pandemic touring has shown that the complications of Brexit are “strangling the next generation of UK talent in the cradle”.Last year, the UK music industry spoke out together on how they had essentially been handed a “No Deal Brexit” when the government failed to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians and crew. As a result, artists attempting to hit the road again after COVID found themselves on the predicted “rocky road” for the first summer of European touring after Britain left the EU.As major touring across the continent returned after a two-year break due to the COVID pandemic, the spring saw artists, managers, and more tell us of how the “nightmare” of new red tape saw artists suffering due to “Brexit fuck-ups and a lack of government control” – with White Lies making headlines as one of the major acts forced to cancel dates in Europe due to their equipment being held up.Last month, a study by Best For Britain – a group “pushing for closer relationships with Europe and the world” – showed that the number of British artists scheduled to perform in Europe as part of this year’s festival season had fallen by 45 per cent when compared to 2017-2019 (pre-Brexit).Best For Britain CEO Naomi Smith told NME that the government needed to act now in order to open the pipeline of new UK talent to develop by being allowed to afford to tour in Europe.“Arguably, music is Britain’s most famous export, so it’s just insanity that the government is refusing to improve the Brexit deal for UK musicians and are strangling that next generation of talent in the cradle,” said Smith.

Ofcom has received over 100 complaints in relation to the current series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! The ITV flagship show was hit by controversy before the new series even launched, when it was reported that former UKIP leader Nigel Farage would be taking part in the show.This led to many viewers threatening to boycott the show, and the controversy has only continued with a number of complaints to Ofcom – the UK's communications regulator – being related to Nigel.

Brexit, according to new research.Campaign group Best For Britain – which is “pushing for closer relationships with Europe and the world” – shared the figures today (July 21). They showed that the number of British artists scheduled to perform in Europe as part of this year’s festival season had decreased by 45 per cent when compared to 2017-2019 (pre-Brexit).Naomi Smith, CEO of Best For Britain, explained of the findings: “The Beatles famously made their name in Europe and it’s on tour that many musicians gain the formative experiences and audiences they need to take off.“With their dud Brexit deal, our lame duck Government has not only robbed emerging British talent of these opportunities abroad, but has also made international acts think twice before including Glasgow or London in their European tours.”Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and UK Trade and Business Commissioner, Deborah Annetts, added: “Previous witnesses to our commission have described how, if you’re a festival organiser in Barcelona who needs to fill a last-minute slot, British bands will be at the bottom of your list due to new barriers created by this botched Brexit deal.“Whoever ends up replacing Boris Johnson must commit to removing this needless bureaucracy which is stifling the prosperity and creativity of the next generation of British musicians.”Earlier this year, artists, management and politicians spoke to NME about the ongoing issues of performing live in Europe post-Brexit.It came over one year on from the music industry essentially being handed a “No Deal Brexit” when the UK government failed to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians and crew.

Boris Johnson would lose his seat as well as Tory control of Downing Street if there was a general election tomorrow, polling shows.