A £30m investment will help “turbocharge” growth to ensure the UK’s world-leading music industry remains top of the pops, under a landmark new Creative Industries Sector Plan.
The cash bonanza marks a major victory for the Express’ Strike A Chord Crusade as our pressure has helped force the Government to identify music as a priority “high-growth sub-sector”.
The Music Growth Package, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10 million annually for three years, promises to deliver concrete benefits for artists, venues and music lovers by creating new touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities for emerging talent to help them break through at home and abroad. There will also be a significant uplift in funding for the grassroots sector to support small venues and help them to platform more high-potential artists.
The includes 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 Strike A Chord campaign has called for a £1 levy on all tickets as advocated by the Music Venue Trust – which a growing number of artists have already agreed to support.
And ministers also say they will commit to ensure a robust copyright regime and ensure protection again AI and aims to tackle the issues of paltry payments receive by streaming giants by creating an industry-wide agreement.
Since the swinging 60s the UK’s music industry has led the world, with British contemporary artists like Dua Lipa, Adele, Stormzy and Coldplay continuing the decades of success trailblazed by the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, to become some of the most renowned and globally impactful artists in history. The Government’s ambition is for the UK to once again 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 to ensure cultural buildings and institutions – including music venues – are fit for future generations, and complements Arts Council England’s £446 million National Portfolio funding that continues to support artists, creatives and organisations.
It has been 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.
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.”
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.”
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.”