Artists and organisations supporting Save Music

SK Shlomo

‘I am totally behind the ISM’s campaign to promote freedom of movement for musicians, it is so important for artists like me where touring is our livelihood. We need to be able to work and requiring a visa every time we need to enter Europe would make touring unfeasible.’

Hannah V

‘I moved to London from Berlin over a decade ago and have been fortunate enough to tour the world with global superstars and travel regularly as a producer and songwriter. Ultimately, the best music comes from collaboration and borders should not hinder that process. Hannah V: producer, songwriter and artist.’


‘I’ve just been selected to tour European festivals in 2019 as part of the EU funded (potentially for the last time) INES Talent programme. Travelling to perform live for people is part and parcel of what we do as musicians, for some of us, it’s the reason we do it. Additional costs and barriers, especially to independent artists, could be the difference between being able to grow internationally or not. Art knows no boundaries, so artists should be able to share their music & go to their fans in Europe without restrictions. #SaveMusic’

Riot Jazz

'We’d love to be ambassadors of the Save Music campaign. It’s something that means a lot to us. We love to travel the world introducing our music to other cultures and we love discovering music from other countries. There’s no better way to learn about other styles and genres of music than travelling and experiencing it first hand. Not to mention being able to meet new musicians. Travel is what keeps us inspired and it helps to keep our music fresh. This year alone we’ve travelled to Russia, Croatia, France, Germany. And over the last few years we’ve played shows in Italy, Bulgaria, Andorra and Finland.'

J. Willgoose, Esq. (Public Service Broadcasting)

'Music is one of the things that the UK is unquestionably strong at, and it’s vital that musicians continue to be able to travel abroad to help both their own careers and the wider entertainment sector. Larger acts will probably be able to absorb the cost of any visas, carnets and other administrative headaches, but it’s those just starting out who operate on the finest margins and whose prospective tours might be sunk by new costs. If we want to continue to produce world-renowned bands and artists it’s vital that ISM’s proposals are adopted.'


'Europe is our life-blood as a band, always has been. Which is why we support the ISM campaign to preserve freedom of movement for musicians 100%. Not as much for ourselves but especially for the many artists and bands who are starting out. Playing in Europe may end up being impossible for them financially, which is completely unjustifiable on every level. Please help by raising your concerns with your local MP and sharing this campaign.'

Bushra El-Turk

'I back the ISM's Save Music campaign because my career as a composer has mostly benefited from being a member of the EU; through the work I have received, through the European cities I have travelled to so I can work with orchestras and festivals, and the wealth of opportunities I have been exposed to without which would not have happened had I not been an EU citizen. The music industry is one of the UK's most vital, important and successful exports. The UK will suffer without it. And art, like the wind, does not understand borders and, ultimately, should not need a visa.'

Ayse (Savages / KiteBase)

'The impact of music in our daily lives is so important - we need to protect that. Art should be for everyone, to price musicians out of being able to tour is to our determent. Free movement for musicians is essential. #SaveMusic'

Dom James, The Dixie Ticklers

'Freedom of movement means so much to The Dixie Ticklers, both as a band and on behalf of my guys who are all busy on the world class European jazz and pop scenes. We need to rely on our music making, and the skills involved in that, not bureaucracy to score gigs. If we lost freedom of movement, European promoters would definitely be put off from checking out the UK scene, and it'd make things impossible for gigs that come in last minute. Vice-versa, during my time running Jazz Nursery on the Southbank, we often booked European artists and bands, but would have been totally unable to without this freedom. We need to stay part of the European music scene, and not exist as some impenetrable curiosity across the channel. Music is a universal language, it knows no borders, so let's not impose them.'

Anna Patalong

'Freedom of movement is of course essential for our jobs, enabling us to move freely around the continent and work without restrictions. But even more importantly it allows artists of every kind in Europe to interact and share our languages, cultures and ideas. Collaboration is fundamental to Opera, which is an amalgamation of many art forms, and the opportunity to, as Oscar Wilde put it, ‘play gracefully with ideas’ is vital to keep us producing great work. The further apart we move, the harder that becomes.'


'It's quite simple. Without freedom of movement through the EU the consequences will only be negative for touring artists. There's no upside. It doesn't help educationally, it doesn't aid cultural enrichment, it doesn't help artists develop their work and will only hamper the world's inclusivity. But if things are going to change then the proposed 2 year visa that the ISM are approving seems as good a way forward as we can see. But this is not just a personal gripe on behalf of musicians and artists wanting to make the world a more nurtured place. The real strangeness of it is that the creative 'industries' (after the finance services) are the UK's second largest exporting sector. So in a world where economics is unfortunately top dog you'd imagine this argument might hold more sway than it appears to. There's no upside.'

Madeleina Kay

'Music is about individuals and communities sharing ideas, creativity, inspiration and passion. Physical barriers to travel limits the ability of musicians to flourish and grow as artists, to the detriment of our cultural diversity. In a digital age where content is shared freely online, it is increasingly hard for musicians to make their way. Freedom of movement is imperative to the freeflow of imagination and talent, and for safeguarding artist's livelihoods.'

Help Musicians UK

'At Help Musicians UK we want a world where musicians thrive and freedom of movement for musicians is vital for a healthy music industry. We therefore share ISM’s concerns on the impact of leaving the EU on working musicians and wholeheartedly endorse their #SaveMusic campaign. It is crucial that artists can continue touring Europe easily, as live music and touring are the lifeblood of the UK’s music economy.'

DMS Vinyl

'Music underpins and celebrates culture; healing divides, opening minds, and inspiring understanding and acceptance of other’s views and traditions. It is a force for good which should not be restricted by borders or politics, by differences in skin colour, gender or religious beliefs, or by the country in which one was born.'

If you are an artist or music organisation who would like to support Save Music, please email [email protected] for further information.