The Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) is calling for full capacity and an increase in supports for the live music industry.

Following an industry stakeholder meeting between the government and representatives from the live music industry MEAI have issued a series of appeals to cabinet.

MEAI met with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin, on August 30 to discuss the reopening of the live music industry.

Appealing directly to the government MEAI requested that the road map which is due to be announced on August 31 will contain reopening dates and “deliver the plan to achieve full capacity and supports”.

“Ensuring the full reopening of the industry to 100% capacity, guaranteeing personal supports, and creating and extending existing supports, will prove Government’s commitment to this industry as declared by an Taoiseach,” the statement issued by MEAI reads.

“It is vital that the Government commits to its understanding of the challenges facing this sector, and delivers solutions in the next two weeks,” the statement continues.

Details of the supports requested by MEAI crossparty committee were outlined in a statement issued on August 29, which called for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and EWSS to be continued until full capacity is achieved and the music and entertainment sector has been fully reopened. The organisation requested that the supports remain “well into 2022” in order to “stimulate growth as the sector opens up”. MEAI also called for the creation of an inter-department working group to continue Government-industry engagement and to “develop greater recognition of the industry into the future”.

It’s hoped that these three requests issued by MEAI will deliver support and security to the industry in the short to medium term “but also guarantee a sustained and long term approach in developing the future of this industry”, the statement reads.

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