UK Music says that since March 2020, the music industry has endured “an incredibly tough period that saw the cancellation of thousands of events and major job losses due to the pandemic”. However, it says, ‘the sector is determined to recover, rebuild and grow its multi-billion pound contribution to the UK economy and generate huge exports”.

UK Music says that with the right support, the music industry can help drive the post-pandemic cultural and economic recovery and be a major UK success story over the next decade.

UK Music notes that as the Government prepares for the future, there will be a focus on the ability of different sectors to respond to future pandemics. There will be a spotlight on delivering the Government’s levelling-up agenda and building a post-Brexit business environment to allow the UK to flourish on the global stage.

Ahead of the Government’s Spending Review on 27 October 2021, UK Music has outlined its Music Industry Strategic Recovery Plan, which establishes “how the music industry can play a key role in building back better and delivering a recovery across the whole of the UK”.

The plan sets out three key principles to ensure that music plays a full a role as possible in the post pandemic recovery:

1. securing the talent pipeline: by providing funds to enable freelancers to recover, creating opportunities through music education and enabling investment in the next generation of British music success stories;
2. supporting and incentivising infrastructure: by protecting live events from further pandemic disruptions, extending the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) while the sector recovers, permanently reducing VAT on hospitality services and ensuring a boost for touring through fostering investment from within the industry; and
3. encouraging exports abroad and fostering investment: by boosting successful exports schemes including the BPI-administered Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) and the PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund (ISF), alongside introducing a package of fiscal incentives to supercharge the industry’s export potential, a transitional support package and establishing a music export office.

To read UK Music’s press release in full and for a link to the plan, click here.