UK unveils £45m music plan to support grassroots sector
The UK government has committed £45 million to bolster its music industry's small businesses and grassroots venues, aiming to protect a major cultural export from an increasingly concentrated market.
The UK government has announced a £45 million Music Plan, anchored by a £15 million top-up to the existing Music Growth Package delivered through Arts Council England over the next three years. The funding aims to support over 2,000 projects, more than 40,000 artists and businesses, and millions of young people.
For the first time, the Growth Package will open its doors to mid-career artists, band managers, independent labels and publishers. This expansion targets the sector's small business infrastructure, a shift welcomed by Gee Davy, CEO of the Association of Independent Music (AIM). “The attention and recognition in the government’s new Music Plan of the need to address all aspects of our interwoven music ecosystem is very welcome,” Davy said.
Beyond direct funding, the plan introduces licensing reforms designed to ease the operational burden on the night-time economy. Festival and outdoor event organisers will gain access to longer licences, while local councils can now issue up to 20 Temporary Event Notices annually, an increase from the previous limit of 15. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), noted these changes support “festivals, promoters, clubs, DJs, producers, electronic music and the independent businesses that develop talent and create opportunities across the country.”
A further £12.5 million will transform libraries across England into spaces with free studio facilities and recording equipment, while £10 million will fund a Creative Mentoring scheme for care-experienced youth. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy framed the investment as a correction to past policy. “After a decade of mindless vandalism that stripped culture and creativity from too many classrooms and communities, we are putting music back at the heart of education,” Nandy said.
However, industry leaders are already pushing for further economic intervention. AIM’s Davy urged the government to investigate the financial pressures on studios and the production cycle to justify a music creation tax incentive. “This would de-risk investment, unlock funding, and empower SMEs to invest in emerging artists and release the world’s most exciting music, and next generation of stars,” Davy said, drawing a direct comparison to successful incentives in film and television. The economic stakes are clear: a recent British Phonographic Industry study found music ranks as the UK’s biggest source of cultural pride.
