Tom Kiehl: Last News

UK Music, which is the collective voice of the UK music industry, has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut VAT in the spring Budget to throw the sector a “vital lifeline” and save venues that are threatened by closure.Tom Kiehl, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive, has asked Hunt to use his Budget next Wednesday (March 6) to lower the current 20 per cent VAT rate on tickets to 10 per cent as a “boost for consumers, music professionals and venues”.The request to slash VAT is among the recommendations that UK Music has made to the Government in its Budget submission, which outlines the support the sector needs to grow (read it in full here).Currently, music fans in the UK must pay 20 per cent VAT on their tickets – almost double the EU average (10.3 per cent) and around triple the rate in countries like Belgium (six per cent) and Germany (seven per cent). ‌ The 20 per cent rate is the third highest rate of cultural ticketing in Europe. Gig-goers pay more tax on UK tickets than anywhere else in Europe, except Denmark and Lithuania.The calls come amid growing concerns for the future of grassroots venues.

UK Music Interim Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to respond to the music industry’s concerns around artificial intelligence (AI) by introducing some form of legal protection around the developing technology.Kiehl and UK Music have suggested that AI could be a form of “music laundering,” opening up a potential means for creatives to not receive compensation for their work.Sunak recently insisted that “the UK’s answer is not to rush to regulate” the use of artificial intelligence.In a letter to the PM, Kiehl urged copyright protection on music and emphasises that AI firms consent to use artists’ copyright-protected work.“Machine learning involves numerous rights, including copyright, which in most countries are not subject to an exception that restricts creators and rightsholders’ abilities to exercise their rights,” he wrote. “As a general principle, the use of music during the ingestion process (in the past, present and future) should always require permission from the creator and the rightsholder.”He adds: “Failure to ensure this basic human right will jeopardise thousands of UK jobs and threaten the fragile talent pipeline on which the music industry relies to nurture the music professionals who are the envy of the world.”He also emphasised the importance of transparency elsewhere in the letter.

MusicWeek now reports that concerts will now benefit from the VAT cut.However, it is currently unclear whether advance ticket sales for gigs beyond the January 12 cut-off for the reduction will still qualify.Pleased to confirm VAT cut from 20% to 5% for “attractions” announced by @RishiSunak includesShows, Theatres, Circuses, Fairs, Amusement Parks, Concerts, Museums, Zoos, Cinemas & ExhibitionsWe will announce further steps on path to reopening shortly@EquityUK #PlanForJobs pic.twitter.com/V04WNPMXQM— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) July 8, 2020It’s also yet to be confirmed whether festivals will qualify for the VAT cut too. Reacting to Sunak’s statement before the clarification on concerts, UK Music acting CEO Tom Kiehl said: “The music

“The virus is having a catastrophic impact on the UK music industry and will threaten many jobs and businesses"

LONDON — Tom Kiehl took over as acting CEO of umbrella organization UK Music Jan. 31, replacing Michael Dugher, but less than two months into the job he already finds his in-tray overflowing.

LONDON - Tom Kiehl took over as acting CEO of umbrella organization UK Music Jan. 31, replacing Michael Dugher, but less than two months into the job he already finds his in-tray overflowing.

Telegraph, a working document from the government recommends a gap of six metres between fans and musicians, as well as a distance of three metres between individual singers on stage.But the plans have been described as “unworkable” by the trade body UK Music, which has warned that venues will not be able to get “back into business” under the current guidelines.“These proposals are unworkable,” UK Music acting CEO Tom Kiehl told the Telegraph.