May 20th: A Day Without Music in Spain

In Spain venues, shops, bars and restaurants will refuse to play music for 24-hours on 20 May in protest over increases in sale tax affecting live events. Un Día Sin Música (A Day Without Music) will be held across Spain ahead of regional elections, as live music industry professionals unite against what they say are unfair levies. The Government raised the top rate of value-added tax from 18 per cent to 21 per cent in 2012, prior to which it had been as low as 16 per cent in 2010 - and music and theatre tickets were re-categorised, moving from the middle band of tax to the top - rising from 8% to 21% overnight.