IRON MAIDEN & JUDAS PRIEST have come together for a big cause. The UK music scene is dying due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1500 artists are supporting the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, which asks for immediate action to aid the massively affected music industry amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s the letter:
“UK live music has been one of the UK’s biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade,” the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign says. “But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for venues, concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak.
“Like other countries such as Germany and Australia, we need the Government to help the music industry, which contributes £5.2 billion to the economy annually and sustains almost 200,000 jobs to ensure it remains world-leading following the damage caused by this pandemic.
“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 world-leading industry.
“On July 2, 2020, UK Music and members of the UK Live Music Group, alongside a coalition of live music businesses including artists, venues, concerts, festivals, production companies and industry figures launched a campaign, Let The Music Play, to highlight the importance of the sector to the UK’s economy.”
IRON MAIDEN showed its support on Twitter, writing:
“Every band has to start somewhere (in time), and IRON MAIDEN were no exception. 90% of the UK’s grassroots music venues are under threat of closure due to COVID-19. Please show your support for live music and share a photo/video from the last gig you went to, tagging #LetTheMusicPlay”