The industry urges the government to recognise music not just as a cultural export, but as a critical driver of growth, jobs and international influence. Photo: Shutterstock.
The UK music sector has issued a united call to government for increased long-term investment in music export and exchange, warning that a lack of funding is jeopardising the global success of British talent.
In an open letter signed by leading organisations and industry stakeholders (including the MU), the sector is urging the UK Government to commit to a £10 million per year, multi-year funding settlement to support international growth.
Barriers to growth
The UK music industry remains one of the world’s largest, with export revenues reaching a record £4.6 billion in 2023, up 15% from the previous year. However, despite this global reputation and commercial success, UK acts are finding it increasingly difficult to break through on the international stage.
In the last decade, the UK’s share of the global music market has halved, and in 2023, for the first time in two decades, no UK artists featured in the IFPI Global Chart Top 10.
The open letter highlights a range of challenges hindering UK music’s global competitiveness, including:
- Brexit-related touring barriers
- Soaring international touring costs
- Low levels of government investment
- Lack of support for emerging and mid-tier artists.
Music is not just a cultural export, but a critical driver of growth, jobs and international influence
The current annual government investment of just £2 million is not sufficient to support the UK’s export ambitions or compete with growing global demand. Signatories are therefore calling for a multi-year commitment of at least £10 million per year to expand existing iniatives and address critical gaps in the export pipeline.
Current schemes have already helped hundreds of UK artists access global markets, build international fanbases, and secure overseas opportunities. For example, the International Showcase Fund generated £6.7 million for the UK economy between 2019 and 2024, while the Music Export Growth Scheme delivered an estimated £73.5 million in financial return over eleven years.
As the UK prepares for its next Spending Review, the industry urges the government to recognise music not just as a cultural export, but as a critical driver of growth, jobs and international influence.
View the full letter and all signatories.