The UK government has officially launched “Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music,” a comprehensive strategy designed to stabilize the sector’s talent pipeline, protect freelancer rights, and boost exports through significant new funding allocations. This move directly impacts labels, publishers, and radio programmers by expanding financial support to mid-career professionals and establishing a dedicated advocate to strengthen the link between the industry and the state.
Expanded Funding Targets Mid-Career Professionals and Labels
The plan allocates an extra £15 million to the existing Music Growth Package from Arts Council England, bringing the total to £45 million. This funding is projected to support more than 2,000 projects and at least 40,000 artists and music professionals over the next three years. A critical shift in this initiative is the extension of eligibility to include mid-career artists, band managers, labels, and publishers, addressing a previous ceiling for mid-level industry workers.
Additionally, the government is deploying at least £12.5 million of dormant assets to fund “Music in Libraries.” This scheme allows libraries to apply for funding to create free studio spaces, recording booths, mixing desks, and state-of-the-art equipment. Ed Sheeran’s foundation serves as a partner organization for this initiative. Another £10 million in dormant assets will support a “Creative Mentoring” scheme, offering in-depth mentoring to care-experienced children and young people to explore creative disciplines including music.
Freelancer Protections and New Industry Advocacy Roles
Addressing long-standing concerns regarding worker security, the plan appoints a “Freelance Champion” to advocate for creative freelancers within government. This role is particularly vital for freelancers who lack protections afforded to full-time employees, especially regarding sexual harassment or bullying. The measure is reinforced by adding the creative-industries watchdog Ciisa to the list of prescribed bodies, ensuring whistleblowers can report to the organization without fear of detriment or dismissal.
Former UK Music boss Michael Dugher has been appointed as the first “Music Champion” to strengthen engagement between the government and the music industry. Dugher, who served as an MP from 2010 to 2017 and later as CEO of UK Music, will begin this one-year unpaid role on July 13. The plan also includes reforms to the live-music licensing system, expanding Temporary Event Notices from 15 to 20 per year and increasing total event days from 21 to 26. Festivals will receive longer licenses, with at least three years for new events and five for existing ones.
Creative industries minister Ian Murray MP emphasized that the plan is a checkpoint toward a more vibrant sector, aiming to support greater exports and a robust pipeline of future talent. The government also announced a 50% boost to the UK music trade-mission program, including doubled funding for the British Music Embassy stage at SXSW.
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