See EU later: The live music industry’s road to Brexit

As the UK celebrates/mourns Brexit Day, IQ looks back at the key developments in the UK's EU exit over the past four years

Could UK artists need a visa to tour Europe from 2021? © Hassan Ouajbir/Pexels

Tonight (31 January) at 11pm GMT, the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, bringing to an end 1,317 days of legal wrangling, political intrigue and frantic negotiations as Britain goes it alone after 47 years.

But for live music professionals, the Brexit question is far from done and dusted, with a number of pressing issues left unresolved (and many no closer to being answered than they were back in 2016).

Chief among them is the question of costly visas for performers and carnets for equipment, which could be reintroduced should the UK and EU not agree on a deal on freedom of movement before the end of this year – and which many fear could make touring economically unviable for smaller acts. So, while freedom of movement continues for…

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