The New Entertainment Law

The Chamber of Deputies has approved the new law on live entertainment, a measure long awaited by industry professionals that establishes new rules and provides the sector with increased funding and favorable tax treatment: among the changes included in the bill are an increase in funding for the Single Fund for the Performing Arts (with an additional €9.5 million for each of the years 2018 and 2019 and an additional €22.5 million starting in 2020), €4 million for performances to be organized in the areas of central Italy affected by the earthquakes of 2016 and 2017, the extension of the Art Bonus to all sectors of the performing arts, the stabilization of the music tax credit, and benefits granted to producers of music recordings and live music performances for the promotion of emerging artists, with funding of €4.5 million starting in 2018, the extension of state support for live performance to contemporary popular music, the artistic expressions of popular singer-songwriter music, and street performances, and the establishment of the Higher Council for the Performing Arts, an advisory body to the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism that replaces the Council for the Performing Arts.