Pressure Drop - Difficult Days Ahead For Musicians

September 11, 2020

By Lloyd Stanbury

Like so many other industries around the world, the music industry is struggling under the pressure and dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamaican musicians and other practitioners in the entertainment industry have been severely affected by restrictions on the Island that negatively impact the events and tourism activities that normally provide work. The cancelation of reggae festivals worldwide has also brought additional pressure to bear on the livelihood of many on the Island.

As if the impact of COVID-19 was not enough, recent immigration announcements coming out of the UK and USA seem likely to deliver a further blow to the income earning possibilities of touring Jamaican artistes. According to a report in NME, the US Department Of Homeland Security has announced that Visa fees for foreign artists touring the USA will be increased by over 50% by the end of 2020. 

In February 2020 NME also reported that as a result of a post-Brexit shake up of the current rules, EU and non-EU based creatives who wish to travel to the UK must prove they have nearly £1000 in savings in their account some 90 days before applying for a visa to work in the UK. This requirement will certainly be another roadblock for Jamaican artistes seeking to perform in the UK.

The future of Jamaican music and its international market viability will require innovative  strategies and new partnerships. Some will survive and some won’t. It for sure won’t be business as usual.