Investment to drive growth in the UK music industry, worth up to £30 million, has been announced as part of the Creative Industries Sector Plan.
The plan, which will be published in the week ahead as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy, identifies the music industry as a “high-growth sub-sector” along with film and TV, video games, and advertising and marketing.
The plan’s Music Growth Package, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10m annually for three years, will include:
– Touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities for emerging talent to help them break through at home and abroad
– Delivering a significant uplift in funding for the grassroots sector to support small venues and help them to platform more high-potential artists
Amid concerns in the music industry about the government’s approach to AI and copyright, the new announcement has also teased a new initiative to help “ensure a robust copyright regime and support British IP”.
Ministers will establish a Creative Content Exchange, which will act as a “trusted marketplace for selling, buying, licensing and enabling permitted access to digitised cultural and creative assets”, which the government said will open up new revenue streams for content owners.
The plan also commits the government to broker an industry-led agreement on music streaming, including helping legacy artists to renegotiate their contracts and increasing remuneration for session musicians. The announcement comes ahead of a crucial meeting for the Creator Remuneration Working Group.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The UK music industry is truly world-leading – home to exceptional talent, iconic venues, and live events that draw fans from around the world. That’s why music will be a key pillar of our Sector Plan, with the power to drive economic growth and create good jobs in every part of our country, as we deliver our Plan For Change. From helping artists tour internationally to supporting grassroots venues, this plan will ensure the music industry continues to thrive for generations to come.”
From helping artists tour internationally to supporting grassroots venues, this plan will ensure the music industry continues to thrive for generations to come
Lisa Nandy
The Sector Plan follows the government advocating for the widespread adoption of a voluntary, industry-led levy on arena and stadium tickets to support small music venues and enable more artists to tour nationally.
“The UK boasts a world-leading music industry, with British artists like Dua Lipa, Adele, Stormzy and Coldplay among some of the most renowned and globally impactful in history,” said a statement. “The government’s ambition is for the UK to be the best place in the world to make, perform and enjoy music, as part of the wider growth agenda.
The package builds on existing creative infrastructure investments, including the new £85 million Creative Foundations Fund for cultural buildings and institutions, including music venues. It complements Arts Council England's £446 million National Portfolio funding that continues to support artists, creatives and organisations.
“Developed in partnership with the Creative Industries Taskforce, Creative Industries Council, (CIC) as well as businesses, devolved governments, regions, experts and other stakeholders, the Sector Plan aims to establish Britain as the world's leading creative superpower by 2035,” said a statement.
UK Music chief executive Tom Kiehl said: “UK Music welcomes the government’s creative industries sector plan and the important status that it gives to music. The plan rightly recognises our world-beating £7.6 billion music sector as an essential high growth driving part of the creative industries.
"It is hugely welcome that funding packages and programmes are being made available to turbocharge the music industry and we are incredibly excited at the opportunity to be working with the government to deliver on this.”
Sophie Jones, BPI chief strategy officer, said: "We welcome the Music Growth Package outlined in the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, and look forward to finding out more as details are released. At a time where British music is facing ever-intensifying global competition, and with myriad other challenges facing our sector, any measures which support emerging British talent and the world-leading label businesses that help them to thrive are invaluable."
Darren Henley, chief executive, Arts Council England, said: "Ambition, excellence and innovation are the golden threads that run through the work of our artists, musicians, dancers, actors, writers, directors and producers. It’s what we’re famous for here at home and on the international stage. This new plan highlights the breadth and brilliance of our nation’s creative professionals and cultural organisations. It provides a roadmap for supercharging the growth of our sector and for nurturing the next generation of British talent, creating jobs across the country and delighting audiences here and around the globe."
Alison Lomax, managing director for YouTube UK & Ireland, said: “We welcome the Creative Industries Sector Plan's commitment to a robust framework for creatives across the UK. It's particularly encouraging to see the government acknowledge the digital creator economy's vital role in driving growth for our creative industries. By embracing new distribution models that boost our cultural exports, this vision will solidify the UK's position as a global cultural superpower.”
Annabella Coldrick, chief executive, Music Managers Forum, said: “The MMF welcomes the incoming Music Growth Package and the government’s recognition of a need for progress on areas including streaming reform, EU touring and grassroots live music. The UK should be the best place in the world for artists and other music makers to base themselves and build a career. This announcement provides an opportunity to set the industry’s compass towards that goal.”
David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition, said: “The FAC welcomes the government’s announcement of a Music Growth Package, and particularly the recognition that artists and other music makers provide the bedrock of our entire sector. It is now vital we can calibrate this support into structural changes around the economics of music streaming, grassroots and EU touring and the application of AI technologies. It’s imperative that the music business of tomorrow is more artist-friendly than the one that exists today.”
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