UK Government Unveils 45 m Music Growth Package and New Powers to Boost National Music Sector

The UK government announced a comprehensive plan to support the music industry on 13 July 2026 at the UK Music Summer Party. The plan, titled Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music, will provide new powers, regulatory reforms and a £45 m investment to support more than 2 000 projects, 40 000 artists and music businesses over three years.

The core of the package is the Music Growth Package, which has received an additional £15 m from Arts Council England. The total funding for the package is now £45 m, and it will be used to back artists at all career stages, including mid‑career musicians, band managers, labels and publishers. The package will also support music businesses and creative professionals.

A separate £12.5 m allocation is earmarked for a Music in Libraries initiative. The programme, co‑designed by the Ed Sheeran Foundation and other partners, will transform public libraries into creative hubs. Libraries that apply will receive funds to install free studio spaces, recording booths, mixing desks and other equipment. The initiative follows a 2024 visit by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Ed Sheeran to Brighten the Corners in Ipswich.

The plan also includes £10 m for a Creative Mentoring scheme. The scheme, delivered by the National Lottery Community Fund, will provide one‑to‑one mentoring for care‑experienced children and young people, giving them access to music, art, film and drama.

Regulatory changes are part of the package. The licensing system for live music will be reformed to allow more flexibility for festivals and other events. The number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) will rise from 15 to 20 per year and the total event days will increase from 21 to 26. Festivals will receive longer licences – a minimum three‑year contract for new events and five years for existing ones.

The plan also boosts the UK’s music trade mission programme. The Department for Business and Trade will increase funding for the British Music Embassy at South by Southwest in Austin by nearly 50 %, doubling the budget for the mission.

In a separate announcement, the government named Michael Dugher, former CEO of UK Music, as the first Music Champion. Dugher will act as an advocate for the sector and help the government promote the new plan.

The government said the plan builds on earlier commitments made in the Creative Industries Sector Plan. It highlighted that the music industry contributes at least £8 bn to the UK economy, generates £4.8 bn in export revenue and supports 220 000 jobs.

Other measures announced include a 15 % business rates relief for live music venues, with bills frozen for two years, and the introduction of digital ATA Carnet processing for touring artists.

The plan also references the Every Child Can programme, a £132.5 m dormant‑assets investment that will provide arts and music opportunities for children across the country.

The UK Music Summer Party, where the plan was unveiled, was attended by industry leaders, venue owners, festival promoters and musicians. The event underscored the sector’s importance to the UK’s cultural and economic life.

The plan is expected to provide a framework for sustained growth, but the government has not yet outlined specific timelines for the rollout of individual programmes.

The announcement comes as the UK music sector continues to recover from the pandemic and seeks new sources of support. The government’s investment and regulatory reforms aim to strengthen the industry’s foundations and create more opportunities for creators, performers and audiences.

The plan will be monitored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Arts Council England, with progress reported to Parliament and industry stakeholders.

In summary, the UK government’s new music plan delivers a £45 m investment, new powers for libraries and mentoring, regulatory reforms for live events, and a dedicated Music Champion to advocate for the sector. These measures are intended to support the industry’s economic contribution and to broaden access to music creation and performance across the country.