UK Government Unveils 12.5m Music-in-Libraries Scheme, 15m Growth Package and New Live-Music Funding

On 13 July 2026, the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced a £12.5 million commitment to a new Music‑in‑Libraries programme. The scheme, developed together with the Ed Sheeran Foundation, will outfit public libraries across England with recording booths, mixing desks and other studio equipment, turning them into free “music lending spaces” that also host live performances.

The initiative will supply each participating library with the gear needed for songwriting and recording, plus instrument loans and mentoring programmes for young musicians. The goal is to give creators a low‑cost, community‑based environment where they can compose, record and share their work.

The idea was sparked by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s visit in 2024 to Brighten The Corners, a non‑profit arts organisation in Ipswich, where she toured the space with singer‑songwriter Ed Sheeran. DCMS officials say the visit convinced the government that libraries could become “model ecosystems” for nurturing new talent.

Guvna B, a musician and co‑chair of the charity Youth Music, said the scheme would be “crucial for musicians from under‑privileged backgrounds”. He added that libraries are familiar, safe spaces where “young people can create good stuff in an environment they’re comfortable in”. He also highlighted the mental‑health benefits of music, noting that “expressing themselves in a bedroom in Scunthorpe can be second to none” for a young person.

The Music‑in‑Libraries plan is part of a wider £8 bn music‑industry strategy that includes an additional £15 million for the existing Music Growth Package. The package is designed to help emerging artists break through domestically and internationally, offering mentoring for artists and promoters, easing red‑tape for music festivals and small venues, and relaxing licensing restrictions for music events.

DCMS officials said the package will provide longer contracts to festivals, giving them “year‑to‑year security” and making the industry more accessible. “Pop is getting posher, and that must change,” the department noted, echoing Nandy’s statement that “music belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few.”

In a separate announcement on the same day, the LIVE Trust confirmed a £1 million boost to its grassroots‑live‑music fund. Founded in January 2025, the Trust has already supported more than 100 artists, venues and promoters. The new money comes from a donation scheme in which artists such as Sam Fender, Wolf Alice and Harry Styles pledged £1 from every ticket sold on their latest tours.

Jim Ghedi, a Sheffield folk singer, said the funding enabled him to tour his 2025 album “Wasteland” with a full band and cover accommodation and travel costs. He also noted that the money allowed him to perform two gigs in Cornwall that would otherwise have been unaffordable.

The grassroots scene is under pressure, with an average of three nightclubs closing each week and more than half of small venues reporting no profit. Gus Unger‑Hamilton, Alt‑J guitarist and director of the Featured Artists Coalition, said that funds like the LIVE Trust are “the way forward” to bridge the widening gap between stadium touring and grassroots touring.

Industry reaction was positive. Tom Kiehl, chief executive of UK Music, said the government’s plan was “very excited to be working with” ministers to improve access for young musicians. He added that the new plan provides a “solid foundation” but that “there’s always more that can be done,” citing artificial intelligence, EU touring and music education as areas needing further support.

The Music‑in‑Libraries programme, the Music Growth Package and the LIVE Trust funding represent a coordinated effort to strengthen the UK’s music ecosystem. By investing in community spaces, supporting emerging talent, and easing operational hurdles for venues and festivals, the government aims to sustain the industry’s £8 bn economic contribution while ensuring that music remains accessible to all.

The next steps will involve the rollout of the library installations, the allocation of the Growth Package funds to specific projects, and the ongoing monitoring of the LIVE Trust’s impact on grassroots venues.