A NEW podcast series, featuring musicians from across the globe, discusses how Covid-19 has impacted the events industry.

The 212 Music Group, an events production company with offices in Brighton, started developing the podcast and contacting leading figures in the music industry during lockdown.

The first episode, which is released today, will feature Mumford and Sons star Ben Lovett.

In a preview for the episode, the musician highlights the necessity of supporting venues during the pandemic.

He said: “I think the venues are really where it all happens. That’s the playground of the industry.”

A future edition will feature interviews with Brian Marquis, the tour manager for Grammy award-winner Billie Eilish and will be hosted by 212 Music Group associate, Dan Mariner.

Josua Sewell, managing director, said: “The 212 Music Group has been quietly working on this project for the last four months and through one-on-one interviews we uncover the challenges, successes, and motivating factors experienced by those pursuing their passions.”

The podcast will launch less than 24 hours after an open letter, signed by more than 100 UK music professionals, was sent to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The letters calls on the government to save live festivals by extending government based insurance schemes to live music events.

It warns that organisers and investors will be unable to recover from the financial losses sustained in 2020 unless live events can be insured against cancellation.

Julian Knight MP, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, wrote that if unless support is provided, some festival may never return.

He wrote: “The government is telling us that life should be getting back to normal by the summer but unless it can provide a safety net, it will be a summer without festivals.

“The industry says that without government-backed insurance, many festivals and live music events just won’t happen because organisers can’t risk getting their fingers burnt for a second year.

“The committee has heard from festival organisers that this is a matter of urgency.”

In June of last year, Glastonbury co-founder Michael Eavis called for government assistance saying that his festival was at risk of bankruptcy if it had to be cancelled again this year. His daughter Emily Eavis said last month that the festival lost “millions” in 2020.