Christopher BarrettThe UK Government has pledged to support the music industry with a £45m Music Growth Package, and to cut red tape to enable longer licences to provide security for festival organisers.
It said changes would lead to longer and more secure licences for festivals and other events, with minimum three-year contracts for new events and five-year contracts for existing events. The number of Temporary Event Notices is to be increased from 15 to 20 per year and the total event days from 21 to 26.
The announcement included the appointment of Michael Dugher, former CEO of UK Music, as the Government’s first Music Champion. He has been tasked with strengthening engagement between Government and the music industry and to act as a dedicated advocate for the sector.
Arts Council England said it is providing an additional £15 million to the Music Growth Package, announced as part of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, to bring it to £45m. The package forms party of the Government’s Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music iniative.
It said the money will be used to support more than 2,000 music projects over three years, back industry professionals and music businesses across the UK, as well as artists. There will be a particular focus on investing in a stronger grassroots ecosystem, with increased investment in smaller and independent music businesses.
Full details of Music Growth Package investment programmes, and timelines for applications, are available via a dedicated new hub on the Arts Council’s website.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said, “At a time when too many people feel disconnected, music has never mattered more… “We are putting music back at the heart of education, investing in creative careers and backing grassroots music across the country.”
LIVE CEO Jon Collins said the announcement was very encouraging for the live music industry: “By continuing to work in partnership, Government and industry can ensure the UK remains the best place in the world to discover, develop, and experience live music.”