Almost half of musicians and music industry workers surveyed have had less work in the EU following Brexit, according to a study by the Independent Society of Musicians.

The report, titled Paying the Price, surveyed 400 people who have worked in Europe since January 2021. Thirty-nine percent have had to turn down work, while 40% have had work canceled in the same period. The most frequently cited expense was for visas and work permits (23%), followed by carnets (18%) and travel costs (14%).

Over a quarter (27.8%) of respondents said they have had no work in the EU at all. One testimonial in the report says “the offer of European gigs has dried up completely” and their band can’t make “any kind of living in the tiny U.K. market” alone.

The report is here.

ISM has made a number of recommendations to the British Government to improve the situation. Most of these wouldn’t require a renegotiation of the EK-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement, according to ISM Chief Exec Deborah Annetts.

“The government has been asleep on the job. It could have tackled many of the issues facing the music sector by itself and made Brexit work. It chose not to,” she said.

“Brexit should never have meant that musicians cannot share their talent freely with our closest neighbors. This damages our country, our soft power and our precious creative talent pipeline. We call on the government to take action and make Brexit work for the wellbeing of musicians and our economy.”

Hozier is set for his first U.K. Official Albums #1 with Unreal Unearth (Island). Over on singles, there’s a three-way battle for the top.

Unreal Unearth looks set to top Hozier’s previous best of #3, achieved with his self-titled debut in 2014.

Exorcism of Youth (Cooking Vinyl) from Scottish band The View is #2 today, followed by Birdy’s Portraits (Warner Music U.K.) at #3.

Reneé Rapp looks set to make her U.K. chart debut with Snow Angel (Interscope) at #4.

Outside of the Top 10, a 40th anniversary re-rerelease of Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense (Sire) could re-enter at #13 to reach its highest peak. Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits (Universal) collection is heading for the Top 20 on Friday, starting at #19.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo are in a three-way race for #1. There’s less than 1k sales separating the trio at today’s halfway point.

From the Barbie movie, “Dance the Night” (Warner Records) by Lipa currently leads the charge, followed by “What Was I Made For” (Interscope) by Eilish at #2. Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen) is #3.

Following last week’s record-breaking feat, female artists still make up the majority of the Top 10, with Doja Cat’s “Paint The Town Red” (Kemosabe/RCA) set to rise eight to join them at #7.

Chase & Status, Bou and Flowdan could all reach a brand-new peak this week with “Baddadan” (EMI) expected to climb six to #14.

Following its debut inside the Top 40 last week, Sonny Fodera, MK and Clementine Douglas’ “Asking” (Solotoko) is set to rise 11 to #20.

The U.K.’s BRIT School is heading north with the approval of a new specialist creative school in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The school will offer free vocational education for 16– to 19-year-olds in music, theater, dance, film and TV, interactive digital design and production arts. It is projected to open in 2026/2027.

The bid for the school was a collaboration between the BPI, Sony, Universal and Warner Music U.K., and the BRIT School, which already has a successful site just outside of London in Croydon. (Artists including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Loyle Carner, Katie Melua and Cat Burns are among past attendees.)

London’s East London Arts & Music (ELAM), partly founded by Universal, was also involved, alongside the Day One Trust, which runs ELAM and the London Screen Academy.

The three label partners have committed to contribute an initial amount of additional funding towards to the school, which is expected to be used for state-of-the-art equipment.

BPI Chief Executive Jo Twist said “It is a positive signal that Government recognizes the critical importance of creative and specialist creative arts education.

“The U.K. is a world-leader in music and across the creative industries and if we want this to continue, we must invest in talent and the highly transferable skills needed for a competitive economy.

“This school will not only focus on producing our next generation of performers, but crucially, train young people with the important technical qualities needed for our industries to thrive and provide them with opportunities that they otherwise might not be able to access.”

Billie Eilish leads a record-breaking week for women on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart while Liam Gallagher secures his fifth solo #1 at albums.

Eilish claims her second #1 single with “What Was I Made For?” (Interscope) scoring a last-minute victory over Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” (Warner). Both songs are featured on the soundtrack for Barbie.

Female solo artists make up the Top 6 of the Official Singles Chart for the first time in the chart’s 70-year history: Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” (Geffen) is #3; Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) lands at #4; Peggy Gou’s “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL) takes #5; and the week’s top new entry, Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?,” is #6.

Female power continues in the #7 and #8 slots with “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice and Aqua and “Disconnect” by Becky Hill and Chase & Status. The Top 40 includes 24 tracks led by or featuring female artists.

At albums, Gallagher’s live recording of his much-hyped return last year to the site of one of Oasis’s iconic gigs, Knebworth 22 (Warner), follows solo chart-toppers such as As You Were and C’mon You Know. Knebworth 22 is the week’s top seller on vinyl and the most downloaded album.

Swedish rockers The Hives celebrate their highest-ever charting record in the U.K. as sixth album The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (Disques Hives) debuts at #2. It also topped the Official Record Store Chart.

Jungle rounds out an all-new Top 3 with fourth studio album Volcano (Caiola).

Other new arrivals include Unfinished Business from PG Records rapper Fredo at #9 and the 50^th anniversary edition of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Parlophone) at #10.

Swift’s 1989 (EMI) rises to #5 as she lands six albums in the Top 20: Midnights (#7), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (#8), Lover (#11), folklore (#13) and reputation (#15).

Liam Gallagher is heading for his fifth solo U.K. Official Albums #1 with Knebworth 22 (Warner Records). Over on singles, Dua Lipa looks to end Dave and Central Cee’s 10-week run at #1.

Knebworth 22 is a live recording of Gallagher’s sold-out shows across two dates to crowds of 170k last year.

The Hives’ The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons (Disques Hives) is not far behind at #2 while Jungle’s Volcano (Caiola) is set for #3.

Fifty years after its recording, an anniversary edition of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: Motion Picture Soundtrack (Parlophone) could see it earn a new peak at #4.

Following the announcement of the forthcoming 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift’s original is set re-enter the Top 10 at #5.

Public Image Ltd could have their first Top 10 on Friday as End of the World (PiL Official) is #7; Unfinished Business (PG Records) from rapper Fredo is on track to debut at #11.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek chart, Lipa’s “Dance the Night” (Warner Records) from the Barbie movie has finally overtaken long-running #1, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood).

The latter, from Dave and Central Cee, has dropped dramatically to #12 today after 10 weeks at the top. Should the track hold onto its midweek peak by Friday, Lipa will claim her fourth U.K. #1.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” (Geffen) is today’s highest new entry, starting at #4. Her “Vampire” is #3.

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s “Desire” (Columbia) could become the duo’s second Top 10 hit together, rising five places to #7. Becky Hill and Chase & Status’s “Disconnect” (Polydor)is also set to rise, up one to #8.

Anne-Marie & Shania Twain’s “Unhealthy” (Asylum) is once again set for a new peak, rising two to #16, and Chase & Status, Bou and Flowdan could enter the Top 20 with “Baddadan” (Universal) at #20.

Cian Ducrot has emerged victorious in a tight battle for the U.K.’s Official Albums #1. Over on singles, “Sprinter” has a 10th week at the top.

Ducrot hits #1 today with his debut album, Victory (Polydor). The set fended off strong competition from Skindred, whose Smile (Earache) landed just 150 sales behind at #2.

At #3 is the most-streamed set of the week, former #1 UTOPIA (RCA) by Travis Scott.

The Sherlocks earn a personal best with People Like Me & You (Teddyboy) at #4, while One Man Band (Modern Sky UK) from Miles Kane is #5.

The first new studio album in 13 years from N-Dubz, Timeless (EMI), debuts at #6.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) by Dave and Central Cee is the first ever U.K. rap track to spend 10 weeks at #1.

Becky Hill and Chase & Status’s “Disconnect” (Polydor) rises six to #9, while Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry & Ella Henderson rebound to #10 with “0800 Heaven” (Warner Music U.K.).

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s “Desire” (Sony) lifts six to #12 and “I’m Just Ken” (Atlantic) by Ryan Gosling from the Barbie movie moves up to #13.

D.O.D’s “So Much In Love” (Armada) climbs up seven to a new peak of #16, while Anne-Marie & Shania Twain also re-enter the Top 20 at a new high of #18 for “Unhealthy” (Asylum).

“Paint the Town Red” (Kemosabe/RCA) from Doja Cat debuts at #20.

Simon Cowell and his Syco Entertainment have launched SYCO Publishing in partnership with UMPG.

The new venture will sign and develop songwriters and catalogs that will be administered and supported exclusively through UMPG globally. The initiative will also create new opportunities for its writers to work across Cowell’s network of media formats and projects, including the X Factor and Got Talent brands.

“Simon has been a good friend for decades and I’m thrilled he has finally decided to launch a publishing business with UMPG,” UMPG U.K. MD Mike McCormack said. “His track record is incredible—he’s always had great instincts and passion for outstanding songs, and brings incredible value to every songwriter, producer and catalogue he works with. The UMPG team looks forward to working closely with Simon on SYCO Publishing and providing the best global support to develop tomorrow’s stars.”

At launch, SYCO Publishing is home to songwriters including British talent Lucy Spraggan and producer John Samuel Gerhart, as well as song catalog rights for hits from Fifth Harmony, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal and Camila Cabello including “Havana” and “Sangria Wine.” The catalog includes rights to songs performed by Machine Gun Kelly, Major Lazer, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson and others.

“There is nothing more important than a great song,” Cowell said. “I started my career in music publishing. Mike and Universal have given me the chance to build a music publishing company. They are a brilliant company and share my wish to work with amazing songwriters.”

SYCO Publishing is the second songwriting-focused project that Syco Entertainment and Universal Music Group have launched collaboratively. In 2022, the companies teamed for StemDrop—a creative platform for musical collaboration, curation and artist discovery, which launched exclusively with TikTok and Samsung.

The ventures with UMG follow Cowell’s exit from Sony, which occurred in 2020 when he bought back the latter’s stake in Syco Entertainment.

U.K. rights management orgs PRS for Music and PPL have partnered with music tech company Audoo to help improve public performance royalty distributions.

As part of the partnership, Audoo’s audio meters have been installed in businesses across the U.K., including cafés, bars, hair salons and restaurants. Using smart plug-in technology, the meters identify background music being played and report the usage back to PRS and PPL in quasi-real-time. They are GDPR-compliant and don’t capture any non-music audio.

They aim to enhance distribution efficiency and deliver optimum payments for PRS and PPL’s 300k collective members.

Tim Arber, PRS for Music's director of Operational Improvement, called the partnership "integral" to the org reaching its ambition to pay out over £1b to members annually in the next few years.

The meters, said PPL's Head of Distribution Russell Chant, "complement our existing suite of advanced technological tools and public performance music usage data, offering us a further way to check that our distributions are as accurate as possible."

Founded in the U.K. in 2018, Audoo has worked with other CMOs and PROs around the world, including GEMA in Germany, APRA AMCOS in Australia and JASRAC in Japan.