Monthly E.Qualize News - January 2021

 This is a monthly newsletter by E.Qualize providing  stories, workings and happenings in and around the events and nightlife scene over the prior month. As E.Qualize's business model is heavily linked to these areas of business, it is only right for us to let you know how things are developing in most countries and what the new norm may be with parties, clubs and gatherings after the controlling of COVID-19.

All-Party Parliament Group (APPG) met with UK government and released a survey to discuss ways to fight off the challenges in the nightlife sector [Author: Sam Hyland]

In December 2020, a number of nightlife organisations came together to create a politcal party, All-Party Parliament group (APPG) in response to the lack of appreciation from the UK government with regards to what nighlife and events brings to the economy, and the lack of consideration from the government to find safe solutions to see its return.

APPG is a political party combining members from UK music (organisation which represents the collective interests of the UK's world-leading music industry), UK Hospitality (leading hospitality trade association UK and represents the interests of the UK's hospitality sector), Sacha Lord (co-creator of Parklife festival), Night Time Economy (global leaders in night time economy management) and more huge nightlife representatives. It was created with the idea of showing the government how important nightlife and events are to the economy, to society, and the culture of the UK during these unprecedented times.

Last month, APPG met up with MPs and cross-party peers to speak on the issues arising with the cancellation of nightlife events, gatherings and festivals for nearly a year. The conversation was in the line of investigating ways to reopen the sector and still be conscious about the pandemic, and through the discussion, APPG urge all music fans, event influencers and nightlife lovers to take part.

After the meeting, APPG created and launched a survey which allows people in the nighlife and events sector to voice their opinions on how importanyt the industries are to the UK and its economy, and why the sectors needs more attention and work to reintroduce it. Respondents spoke on how the lack of events has impacted everyone in the industry from a financial, social and economical point of view.

Members of APPG and survey respondents mentioned that:

• Music and nightlife can be the power to economic and cultural revival in the UK post-pandemic
• Due to the lack of consideration for the sector, 15% of residential properties have collecting debts for nearly a year
• Jobs have been lost and business have closed down due to the lack of innovationto bring nightlife back in the UK
• The industry needs huge financial support for business to be successful over the first 6-12 months

International Nightlife Association (INA) condemn illegal raves on NYE and orders maximum punishment to organisers [Author: Martin Gutridge-Hewitt]

The International Nightlife Association (INA) released a public statement on their website condemning all illegal raves in multiples countries on New Years Eve and New Years Day and orders maximum fines and punishment to all organisers of the parties.

There were a number of organised NYE parties in repsonse to more lockdown restrictions in most European countries due to the spread of the new COVID-19 strand. Most events had 100s of attendees each, however a party in Spain had 2500 people that attended and a rave in France had been going on for 36 hours before police intervened.

INA slammed many events specifically saying that the organisers and attendees were ignornat to the health precautions and regulations set out by the governments and that they could be the reaason why there are delays in the return of events and nightlife for everyone.

A well-renowned DJ releases a mixtape series to help pay DJs during the pandemic [Author: Martin Gutridge-Hewitt]

Local Action and Finn has recently dropped a mixtape series to help DJs financially during these times where clubs and nightlife is lockdown. Local Action and Finn had been working on the mixtape series since Spring 2020 in response to the closure of the nightlife industry and to keep creatives active.

All the DJs that contributed musically to the mixtape was paid a fixed fee of £150 and a budget of £150 provided for any artwork contributions. Mixtape series can be accessed for free or via Patreon where people can donate £5 to help fund the creative project (all additional money will be distributed evenly to contributors).