UK government announces plan to extend festival licenses and support musicians
As part of a new long-term plan to support artists, venues and events, the government has injected £15 million into the sector
The UK government has injected £15 million into the music industry as part of a new "long-term plan to support the sector", which brings in around £8 billion to the economy each year.
It brings the total support package up to £45 million for artists and businesses in the UK music industry, with an aim to support over 2,000 music projects over three years.
The initiative, titled Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music, will back "thousands of grassroots projects, over 40,000 artists and businesses, and millions of children to secure a thriving music industry".
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It includes a plan to grant more long-term, secure licences for festivals and other music events, with minimum three-year contracts for new events and five-year contracts for existing ones.
It also pledges to inject £12.5 million into music lending libraries, transforming libraries around the UK to include free studio spaces, mixing desks and recording booths.
Elsewhere, the UK government said it will increase the number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) from 15 to 20 per year, per premises, which allow for the sale of alcohol and the ability to host entertainment and live music events.
Speaking on the new plan, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Music is our shared language. It brings people together, breaks down barriers and gives voice to every community."
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"We believe music belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few. That’s how we widen opportunity, strengthen our communities and ensure the UK’s incredible fans and extraordinary musical talent continues to inspire the world for generations to come."
Other plans outlined include funding for creative mentoring for "care-experienced young people", and the appointment of the government’s "first Music Champion", who will advocate for the sector and act as the middleman between the industry and the government.
A recent study from UK Music found that the UK's music tourism industry was worth an enormous £11.2 billion in 2025, with large-scale shows helping to attract over 24.7 million visitors last year.
While the Association of Independent Music (AIM) CEO Gee Davy called the government's plan a "good starting point", she urged them to "take a further step to effectively incentivise investment in new music, with an investigation into the challenging environment surrounding studios and the music production cycle".
Read more about Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor