More than 26,000 permanent jobs will be lost in the U.K. live music industry before the end of the year with revenues set to fall by 81%, according to a research report that urges for extended Government support.

The British Government’s furlough scheme, which saw workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis receive up to 80% of their pay, is ending at the end of this month. As a result, research carried out on behalf of live music industry umbrella group LIVE says that a total of 170,000 jobs will be lost, including self-employed and freelance workers.

“We were one of the first sectors to close and we will be one of the last to reopen,” Phil Bowdery, Chair of the Concert Promoters Association, said. “We are currently caught in a catch-22 where we are unable to operate due to Government restrictions but are excluded from the Extended Job Support Scheme as the furlough comes to an end. If businesses can’t access that support soon then the majority of our specialist, highly trained workforce will be gone.”

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