Bye-bye American pie: high price of visas keeps British musicians off US tours

Ever since Beatlemania, UK acts have set their sights across the pond. Now spiralling costs are pulling the plug

Breaking" America has been the goal of young British musicians since the days of Beatlemania, but that dream is being dashed. Hundreds of emerging artists could be affected by plans to hike visa fees by 250% - and music industry executives have criticised ministers for failing to act.

The US immigration service wants to raise visa costs from $460 (385) to $1,615 (1,352) alongside other changes that artists and their managers say would make it almost impossible for anyone but the biggest stars to perform in the US.