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Late Payments, Lack Of Contracts, But A Great Industry To Work In: UK Freelance Report Published
LIVE, the UK’s organization representing the live entertainment trade, has commissioned an in-depth analysis of the contribution freelancers make to this industry.
1,281 live music freelancers contributed to the survey, dubbed “Powered by Freelancers – The Live Music Edition 2024,” with 87% of respondents stating that “freelance work provides my primary income.”
It is those freelances who were instrumental in the UK live industry’s post-COVID resurgence. According to LIVE stats, “the UK’s live music industry generated £5.2 billion [$6.6 billion] in 2022, and the summer of 2023 showcased a post-pandemic resurgence for much of the sector, despite challenges remaining for grassroots music.”
And while the core message of this report is one of positivity, key concerns remain. The report therefore also includes suggestions for improvement, “and demonstrates how the live music industry can become an even more attractive, inclusive, and safe space to work for all,” according to a press release announcing the report’s launch.
Some key findings taken from “Powered by Freelancers”: 73% of respondents agreed that live music was a great industry for freelancers to work in, with over 60% feeling “optimistic” about the next 12 months.
However, the report also highlights that freelancers lack financial security, adequate pay, flexibility, and work-life balance – “factors that are becoming increasingly important to those working in live music,” according to the press release.
59% of respondents agreed that enough freelance jobs were available, but 56% said that they found it difficult to access or secure those roles, a problem exacerbated among some of the younger, and non-male respondents.
As the report states, “throughout this report, we see varying factors around age and gender, which portrays the structural misogyny that we know can be all too prevalent within our industry. It has also been made clear that there is the need to nurture new talent coming through the ranks to make sure the future of our industry is a secure and positive place to work for all.”
Another key concern among respondents is the cancellation of work by event organizers at short notice. Less than half of respondents (49%) signed contracts in the last 12 months before agreeing roles, a similar percentage have experienced cancellation of work in the same period, with 48% having jobs cancelled with less than one week’s notice.
The report, which is available for download here, was produced in partnership with Handle Freelance Solutions, The Back Lounge, and the UK LIVE Event Freelancers Forum.
The findings will inform the next steps these organizations intend to take: “As a collective, we will be taking all of these learnings from the report and funneling them into the objectives for LIVE Workforce. LIVE Workforce is our expert group, where industry practitioners alongside ED&I and workforce specialists work on initiatives that will positively impact the current and future workforce of our industry. Across this report, and with a focus on the three key areas identified, we will work as a collective to deliver positive resolutions to all.”
Darren Woolnough, managing director at Handle Freelance Solutions, said, “The research mirrors the conversations that we have daily. It highlights a significant concern where late payments, and a lack of formal contracts can often be normalized within the freelance community. Instead of pointing fingers, our commitment is to provide the guidance and solutions to help companies understand how they can deliver an exceptional freelancer experience and this research is invaluable to helping us do exactly that.”
Suzi Green, founder of The Back Lounge, said, “Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill in the survey, we now have an invaluable temperature check of where we as an industry, powered predominantly by freelancers, are at right now. Hopefully it will spark conversations, provoke reactions, and ultimately help influence positive change in some of the areas where change is much needed.”
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Paul Jones, director of event production & management company Ethix Management, said, “Having worked on this since July last year when the idea came to life, I feel both privileged and very proud to be part of an amazing team who have given their all to dive deep into the freelance world and then see the remarkable responses. Taking this survey data forward to help professional freelancers in the live sector become better supported is now one of the priorities. Having previewed to audiences, we have seen some very positive reactions and hope they become a main topic of conversation on improving an industry that so many are incredibly passionate about.”
Jon Collins, CEO of LIVE, said, “Freelancers are crucial to the success of the live music ecosystem and our industry relies on them to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans. That is why LIVE was delighted to partner with Handle Freelance Solutions, The Back Lounge and UK LIVE Event Freelancers Forum to produce this ground breaking report, the first of its kind, and in doing so deliver invaluable insight into the freelance experience.
“Much in the report is great to see, not least the resoundingly positive response from people when asked if ours is a great industry to be in. Of course, reports like this will always highlight opportunities for improvement and we will be taking all of these learnings and funneling them into the work of our LIVE Workforce group, where industry experts alongside ED&I and workforce specialists work towards objectives that positively impact the current and future workforce of our industry.”