Artists and organisations from across the UK music sector have united today behind a campaign drawing attention to the urgent situation performers and venues find themselves in the wake of the Coronavirus.

Called #letthemusicplay, the campaign, launched by UK Music, the organisation which represents the country’s commercial music sector, calls on the government to offer: 'A clear conditional timeline for reopening venues without social distancing', and 'an immediate comprehensive business and employment support package', which should include 'a Government-backed insurance scheme to allow shows to go ahead; an extension of the furlough scheme and help for the self-employed and sole traders to prevent mass redundancies; [and] rent breaks for venues to allow them to reopen.'

A report published last month by Oxford Economics and commissioned by the Creative Industries Federation, which was supported by UK Music, has suggested that without help, the music industry 'is projected to lose at least £3 billion in GVA (50 per cent) and 60 per cent of jobs (114,000)'.

The campaign has also encouraged people to share a photo, video or memory of the final concert they attended prior to lockdown on Twitter, using the #letthemusicplay hashtag, something audiences from all genres including classical are getting involved in.

A letter signed by 560 major artists from the pop and rock world and beyond in support of the campaign said: 'Like every part of the entertainment industry, live music has been proud to play our part in the national effort to reduce the spread of Coronavirus and keep people safe. But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak.

'This sector doesn’t want to ask for government help. The venues, promoters, festival organisers, and other employers want to be self-sufficient, as they were before lockdown. But, until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies, and the end of this great world-leading industry.

The UK classical music sector works on a different financial model to its commercial cousins, with much of its activity unable to operate without regular funding from government or sponsorship, even in usual times. A £160m emergency financial package from Arts Council England was given to the arts sector in March, but with no end currently in sight for restrictions on performance more money is desperately needed to support musicians in the meantime. It’s an urgent situation which has been regularly raised by leading representatives from the orchestral and choral in recent weeks, through letters published in newspapers or online.

The government last week published a roadmap listing the order of steps that will be taken to return the performing arts to its pre-pandemic state, though it did not contain a timeline, or an announcement of additional funding. In a Tweet yesterday the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden said 'I understand the deep anxiety of those working in music & the desire to see fixed dates for reopening. I am pushing hard for those dates & to give you a clear roadmap back. These involve v[ery] difficult decisions about the future of social distancing, which we know has saved lives'.

To find out more about the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, visit UK Music’s website.