IMPALA e AMAEI Apresentam Recomendações do Sector da Música Independente Face ao Covid-19

Face à grave situação do vírus Covid-19, a AMAEI vem por este meio divulgar as recomendações Europeias da IMPALA Task Force bem como recomendar ao Ministério da Cultura, DGartes, e Fundos Culturais das nossas sociedades de gestão colectiva a criação de linhas de apoio concretas ao sector independente – motor essencial ponto de partida à criação e edição fonográfica.

As recomendações da IMPALA estão publicadas no seu site, sendo que reproduzimos abaixo os 10 pontos principais.

Entretanto, a AMAEI já fez chegar ao Ministério da Cultura, DGartes, Audiogest e GDA as nossas recomendações nacionais:

A) APOIO À CRIAÇÃO ARTÍSTICA,  EDIÇÃO DIGITAL e  PROMOÇÃO ONLINE

Os artistas estando em caso, podem e devem utilizar o seu tempo útil em processos de criação artística remunerada através de um procedimento DGartes Simplificado (capacitado pelo Fundo de Fomento Cultural conforme anunciado pela Ministra Graça Fonseca) onde se possam candidatar mensalmente, durante a crise Covid-19, a executar a partir de casa um projecto comparticipado no valor mensal de 1000 €, seja para criação de novos conteúdos fonográficos (composição e gravação de novas obras) ou performances online.

B) APOIO A EMPRESAS DA INDÚSTRIA, DISTRIBUIÇÃO DIGITAL, PROMOÇÃO & MARKETING

Por outro lado, criar um mecanismo de apoio Simplificado para as empresas que têm atividade editorial e a empresas ligadas com a organização de espetáculos ao vivo que tiveram interrupção da sua actividade e que possam ser compensadas através da organização de mais festivais online – no entanto tendo sempre em conta a remuneração dos artistas – ou outras actividades de produção cultural, como a edição digital, marketing digital, playlisting etc. Estes apoios podem ser implementados da mesma forma do regime Simplificado da DGartes, até 5000 € por projecto.

Vertentes / Actividades comportadas pelos apoios:

– edição e distribuição digital

– disseminação online, promoção, marketing digital, festivais online

IMPALA’s 10-point COVID-19 crisis plan
Key pillars of actionCo-ordination – This will ensure a cohesive approach across Europe and avoid excessive burdens on smaller actors having to negotiate different situations in each country.  

National plans – Each country needs a comprehensive economic response, especially for smaller actors. This is the key to navigating the crisis. 

EU measures – EU action is essential to complement national plans and boost Europe’s economic recovery. This will promote added value and EU leadership.

Sector initiatives – Light and agile sector action will provide concrete help where it is most needed. This will inspire solidarity and boost recovery.  

Mapping – A review will be ongoing to help map action at EU, national and sector level, as well as assess expected losses. This will promote best practices and a faster response. 

Ten recommendations
1. Joined-up approach across Europe – co-ordination and EU liaison will help ensure each country has a comprehensive package of measures in place. With the EU introducing looser state aid rules and more fiscal flexibility, national governments have the freedom they need to act swiftly and effectively.  Sector actors exchanging best practices is also a key part of co-ordination. 

National
2. Clear rules – all countries should take clear decisions on event cancellations and lockdowns. This will help the sector claim on their insurance where applicable and access compensation schemes.

3. National economic measures – comprehensive plans need to be adopted by all countries with key measures such as: self employed income protection, unemployment relief for self employed and freelance workers, support for staff costs small business relief funds, access to interest free loans, payment holidays for rents and business rates, company tax relief, suspension/delays in tax/VAT declarations and social security payments, mortgage payment holidays, loan repayment holidays, lower VAT rates, lower national bank interest rates and fiscal incentives to boost investment and recovery post crisis.

4. Sector specific compensation plans – national financial support packages must be launched immediately for hard hit sectors like music, plus VAT should be lifted on all cultural goods and services. 

EU
5. Increased EU loan guarantees for cultural sectors – the capacity of the EU’s Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility should be tripled, with 100% guarantees to promote national lending (current guarantee level is 75%).

6. EU crisis measures for culture – with culture being in the first and hardest hit sectors, a specific crisis fund is needed specifically for smaller actors to provide non-refundable financial support and interest free loans, along with other measures such as allowing countries to lift VAT on cultural goods and services and providing incentives for new growth in the sector post crisis.

7. Monitor national action and integrate culture in general EU decisions – the EU should monitor effectiveness of national responses, general EU funds released to address the crisis should be accessible for culture, all EU projects that depend on events should be automatically carried over, and delays in reporting and project management should be accommodated.

Sector
8. Collecting society mobilisation – all collecting societies should set up crisis funds for their smaller members (producers and artists, as well as publishers and authors), make advances available for all members, as well as interest free loan facilities. 

9. Digital services action – music services and platforms should be properly licensed, introduce crisis funds for small businesses, make faster royalty payments, pass over a higher percentage of revenues to rightsholders, provide advances to all rightsholders who need them, boost local music and artists with playlists and support local social media campaigns. 

10. Support from national media – radio and other media should promote local music and artists with increased music programming, put more focus on independent and local artists, and promote new local releases as well as local social media campaigns.