Supporting the Future of Music

Music is the heartbeat of our society. It brings people together, tells our stories, and inspires us. 

The UK has long been a global leader in music, producing iconic artists who have made waves across the world. In 2022 alone, live music contributed a massive £5.2 billion to the UK economy, supporting 228,000 jobs and bringing joy to millions. 

But beneath the glamour of sold-out concerts and chart-topping hits, our music industry is facing real threats that could undermine its future, from grassroots venues closing at an alarming rate to the impact of Brexit on touring artists. 

The Liberal Democrats have a comprehensive plan to safeguard the future of the UK’s music industry and restore its place as a global leader in creativity and talent:

• Negotiate Free, Simple Travel for UK Artists in the EU: We will push the government to negotiate free, short-term travel arrangements for UK artists performing in Europe and vice versa.
• Support Grassroots Music Venues: We will implement the recommendations of the DCMS committee report on grassroots music venues, including the introduction of a large venue levy. To protect grassroots venues, we will ensure that the Agent of Change principle is also properly enforced.
• Free Instrumental Lessons for Primary School Children: Every child deserves the opportunity to discover and develop their musical talents. We will work towards providing two years of free small-group instrumental lessons with a free instrument to every primary school child.
• Reinvest in Music Education: To reverse the decline in music education, we will reverse cuts to Arts Hubs, increase the number of music teachers and provide funding through an Arts Pupil Premium.

We are committed to tackling the challenges facing our music industry head-on. By doing so, we can maintain the UK’s reputation as a global leader in music, while giving future generations the chance to share in its success.