UK Launches 45 Million Turn It Up Music Plan, Appoints Music Champion, and Extends Ticket-Levy Support

On a summer evening in London, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sounded a new rhythm for the UK’s music sector. On 13 July 2026, it unveiled Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music at the UK Music Summer Party, a ceremony that followed a fan‑led review of live and electronic music published in April. The review had called for a new Fans’ Charter and almost 50 recommendations across seven pillars – celebration, ticketing, grassroots, safety, accessibility, transport and voice.

The government’s response, released the same day by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS), confirms that the plan was shaped by that review. Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP praised the response for “making the right noises about supporting the music industry and recognising the role that fans play in its success.” She noted the plan’s “long‑overdue action to tackle the scourge of ticket touting,” but expressed disappointment that the government has yet to protect grassroots venues or extend the £1 ticket‑levy scheme.

Key elements of the Turn It Up plan include:

- £45 million Music Growth Package – An additional £15 million from Arts Council England tops the package, which had been announced in the previous year’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. The £45 million will be distributed over three years to support more than 2,000 projects and 40,000 artists, teams and venues. - Music Champion role – Former UK Music chief executive and ex‑MP Michael Dugher has been named the government’s Music Champion, a position intended to advocate for the sector and help roll out the plan’s initiatives. - Legislative options for the £1 ticket‑levy – The response states that the government is prepared to explore ways to extend the existing £1 ticket‑levy scheme, offering additional backing for grassroots live music. - Fan representation – While the review urged the creation of a new Music Fans Association, the government says a new body should be driven by the sector but supports initiatives that broaden fan representation. - Funding for artists, licensing, exports and education – The plan grants new powers and regulatory reforms to streamline licensing, boost music exports, and increase investment in music education.

The CMS will convene a session in September with Lord Brennan of Canton, who chaired the fan‑led review, and DCMS/DBT Minister Ian Murray to discuss the review and the government’s response.

The launch at the UK Music Summer Party drew industry leaders, artists and venue owners. The event underscored the government’s pledge to make the UK “the best place in the world to create and invest in music,” while acknowledging the challenges of rising operational costs and shifting audience behaviour.

Industry observers note that the package’s focus on grassroots venues and ticket‑levy support tackles long‑standing concerns about the sustainability of small‑scale live music. The emphasis on fan representation also reflects the review’s call for a more inclusive approach to industry governance.

In short, the UK government’s Turn It Up plan introduces a £45 million investment, appoints a Music Champion, and signals a willingness to extend the £1 ticket‑levy. Its success will hinge on how effectively these measures are implemented and whether they meet the needs of artists, venues and fans.