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Help Us Keep Music At The Heart Of The BBC

We need your help! Music is one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown. But the Corporation is facing major funding changes which could put the music we love at risk. It’s vital you have your say to support music at the BBC and the wider music industry. Everything you need to know and how you can have your say is in our crib sheet below.

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Have Your Say On How Changes At The BBC Could Impact Music

The Government has begun the BBC’s Charter Review  – a two-year process where the Government considers the public purpose and future direction of the BBC, as well as its funding models , before granting it a new Royal Charter to succeed the current one which expires at the end of 2027.

The Charter is the legal basis for the BBC to exist and lasts around 10 years. The first part of this process involves asking the public their views through a consultation known as a “Green Paper”. This is where it is so important for anyone working in music to make their voice heard, and stress the importance of music at the BBC.

The BBC is the UK’s largest employer of musicians, programmes such as BBC Introducing and BBC Young Musician and BBC Young Composer competitions give opportunities to emerging talent. BBC Radio plays more unique recordings and compositions across its TV and radio networks than commercial equivalents, according to PPL and PRS for Music data. It is vital that this breadth and diversity of music is allowed to flourish.

Please take 10 minutes to fill in the Government consultation to help ensure that the BBC continues to be a champion and a home for British music. We have prepared a cribsheet to help you fill in the consultation – with a focus on key points for music. You do not need to answer all questions – we have highlighted the most important ones here for you, others which are less important are yellow.

We suggest you open the consultation using this link in a new tab, and refer back to this page as you go through the answers. You do not need to answer all questions.

Deadline is Tuesday, 10 March 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Section 1: The BBC’s Mission and Public Purposes
1. Do you agree or disagree that the BBC’s current Mission and Public Purposes should remain the same?
Agree – The BBC’s Mission and Public Purposes should remain the same
2. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the BBC should have a specific Public Purpose to support economic growth?
Disagree – A Public Purpose aiming to support the growth of the creative economy should probably not be added.
3. Which option, if any, most closely represents your feelings on whether the BBC should continue to provide a wide range of content and services that represent all audiences in a way that brings communities together, supports social cohesion, and helps build a unifying national story throughout the next Charter period?
The BBC should do more to represent all audiences.
4. If you agree that the BBC should continue or do more to play this role, what options aiming to improve how the BBC reflects and represents all audiences do you support, if any? (Please select all that apply)
  • Producing more content that is distinctive to the UK
  • Covering genres which are less covered by other broadcasters e.g. arts, minority language broadcasting
  • Producing more content that brings people together around shared moments
  • Sharing diverse voices and perspectives from all parts of the UK
  • Improving on and off screen diversity
  • Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 50 words.]
    Describe what music programming you would like to see more of, and which audiences it would be aimed at. If you have worked on BBC or BBC commissioned content, you may want to comment on the diversity of the workforce as well.
Green Paper Chapter 1: A trusted institution
5. To what extent do you agree or disagree that new requirements on the BBC should be introduced so that the BBC does more to improve workplace standards?
Agree – New requirements on the BBC to improve workplace standards should probably be introduced.
6. How, if at all, does the amount those working for the BBC are paid impact your view of the BBC? When responding, you may wish to consider how much it impacts your trust in the BBC’s outputs and whether it affects how much you engage with BBC services. [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
Many working in the music industry have reported issues with insufficient fees for appearances on BBC radio or TV programmes, or ongoing concerns around fair treatment from the media composer community.
If you have experience of this, please explain the issue in your own words.
If you have not experienced this we suggest stating that
All performers and composers should be fairly paid for their time, using agreements and fee structures as set out by representative bodies such as the Musicians Union and Ivors Academy.
7. Reflecting on this definition of accountability, to what extent do you agree or disagree that the BBC is currently accountable to the public? (Please select all that apply)
Agree – The BBC is mostly accountable to the public.
8. Which of the following options aiming to enhance the BBC’s accountability, if any, do you support?
  • Changing the structure of the Board to enhance its effectiveness and accountability
  • Other (please specify) [Please limit your response to 50 words.]
    I believe the BBC board should have a union representatives (or other employee / worker representative) chosen by the workforce to make sure that my voice as a creative worker is considered in BBC decision-making.
    Add, in your own words, why you believe the board should include employee and freelancer representation, such as a trade union representative, chosen by the workforce. This could help with workplace employment and safeguarding issues, improve industrial relations, give better connection between the employer and the workforce, specially freelancers.
9. The government is considering targeted changes to increase transparency in the BBC to enhance BBC accountability over the next Charter period. Which options, if any, do you support? (Please select all that apply)
No changes are necessary
10. Why, if at all, does the BBC’s independence matter to you? (Please select all that apply)
  • It allows the BBC to be free from government or political influence in the content it releases
  • It allows the BBC to be impartial when reporting on elections, government policies, and political parties
  • It allows the BBC to hold government to account and/or be critical of government
  • It allows the BBC to be editorially independent and make the final call on what stories to cover and how to cover them.
  • It allows the BBC to pursue its own agenda, without interference, so it can provide content that serves audiences across the UK
  • Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words]
    Freedom of expression is vital in all creative endeavours, and the BBC should not seek to censor any musical or creative output. The BBC’s independence means that it is free from editorial and curational bias that may exist if it was owned by a commercial or rightsholding organisation.
    State, in your own words, why, in your work it is important that freedom of expression is protected, and that there is no political interference in creative output. Feel free to give examples.
11. What measures to increase the BBC’s independence from government, if any, should be prioritised to support greater trust in, and engagement with, the BBC? In your response you may wish to explain your reasoning and provide relevant evidence. [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
N/A
12. Do you have any further views on the topics or options discussed in this section you wish to expand on?
Unsure or no opinion
Feel free to reiterate or expand on any previously made points on the importance of freedom of creative expression
Green Paper Chapter 2: Delivering services for the public good
13. What, if anything, should the BBC focus on to ensure AI is used for the public good and for the benefit of the wider Creative Industries? (Please select all that apply)
  • Transparently explaining its own use of AI, for example, in the creation of content and services
  • Having new requirements (for example, transparency obligations), to set the ethical standards for AI’s use in public service media organisations
  • Teaching audiences how to recognise where AI has been used, and to critically assess the reliability of information and content
  • Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
    The BBC must not replace human creators with AI-generated content, in its own or third-party comissions, and there should be no reduction in the blanket PRS and PPL fees through use of AI-generated music in any in-house or commissioned productions . Any AI used in the organisation should be ethically trained with full consent of any rightsholders of training data, and no content owned by the BBC should be used for AI training without the express consent of all creators and rightsholders. Any AI generated content used for editorial purposes must be labelled as such.
14. What kind of programming, if any, do you think the BBC should make more visible on its platforms? (Please select all that apply)
  • Arts, religious and international affairs programming (sometimes referred to as ‘underserved’ genres)
  • Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
    The BBC should make music programmes more visible on its platforms both domestically and internationally, and increase the overall investment in music programming across the corporation. All music should be appropriately licensed at fair value. Playlisted content on BBC Sounds (BBC Mix) should focus on the unique curation that the BBC is expert in, rather than mimicking DSP generated playlists, which brings little added value to audiences or artist.
15. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the BBC should make greater use of third party platforms to share its content?
Neither agree nor disagree – No opinion either way
This very much depends on the nature of the deal struck with the third party platform so would encourage neither agree or disagree
16. Reflecting on your response above, please explain why you agree or disagree that the BBC should make greater use of third party platforms to share its content. Please provide relevant evidence, where possible. [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
Making content available on third party platforms should not be to the detriment of those involved in creating the content – i.e. music must be appropriately licensed and licenses must be fairly negotiated and give fair value.
Give examples of good and bad practice if you have any.
17. What, if anything, do you believe would improve the value and relevance of BBC news and current affairs to you? This includes all BBC news and current affairs content, including its TV, radio and online news services, and local, national and international news outputs.
Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
More reporting on music and culture generally
18. Thinking about the next Charter period, what role, if any, do you think the BBC should have in ensuring UK citizens can recognise and access trusted and accurate information? Please provide any relevant evidence to support your response. [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
Access to impartial, accurate and trusted information is central to a well-functioning democracy. The BBC should continue to play a central role in helping people recognise and access reliable information. Ensuring audiences have access to accurate information about artists, and the context and nuance of their work, is also essential to protecting freedom of expression for musicians.
19. The BBC’s international output showcases the UK, its culture and its values to a global audience. This includes the BBC World Service, which seeks to provide access to trusted news around the world in an increasingly challenging international environment. To what extent do you agree it is important that the BBC continues to perform these roles internationally?
Strongly agree – The BBC must continue to provide this role internationally
20. Do you have any further views on the topics or options discussed in this section you wish to expand on?
Unsure or no opinion
Green Paper Chapter 3: Driving growth across the UK
21. What, if anything, do you value about the BBC being UK-wide? (Please select all that apply)
  • Bringing people together from different communities across the UK, including its nations and regions
  • Representing of people from across the UK
  • Telling local stories to a national audience
  • Providing local news and information
  • Money spent in local areas
  • Stimulating local creative clusters (e.g. MediaCity in Greater Manchester, BBC’s new headquarters in the West Midlands), including through supporting the independent production sector.
  • Jobs and skills development for local people
  • Other, please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
    Add any additional thoughts, for example access to music, orchestras around the country, local competitions such as BBC Introducing, Young Trad Musician of the year, etc.
22. (1) To what extent do you agree or disagree that the BBC should be required to spread more of its spending, activities, and decision-making across nations and regions of the UK?
Neither agree nor disagree – No opinion either way.
We believe that spreading spending and activities around the country can be very effective if done well, but must not be to the detriment of established music activities, so are encouraging people to respond neutrally, and don’t believe a multi-choice questionnaire is the best way to address this. We will be responding to this question in detail via email.
22. (2) Which option(s), if any, would you support for spreading the BBC’s economic impact and role supporting the production sector across the UK nations and regions? (Please select all that apply)
  • Requiring the BBC to develop long-term strategies for regional creative sector development
  • Other: please specify [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
    Any major relocations must be planned with a long lead time, and consultation, and must take into account the interconnected nature of local music ecosystems. For example, employed orchestras in major cities have a much wider footprint than the building in which they are based, and will likely support the employment of many more freelancers and be a beacon that encourages a strong talent pipeline in local schools and colleges
23. What, if anything, do you think the BBC could do to fill skills gaps in the creative sector? Please provide any relevant evidence, where possible. [Please limit your response to 200 words.]
N/A

If you are responding to this consultation in a capacity other than as a member of the public (for example on behalf of an organisation, business, representative body or other professional capacity), you will be required to answer one of the following questions:

23 (a). If you represent an organisation that has worked with the BBC in the past, please share your reflections and provide evidence on your experience of how your partnership has worked and how it could be improved. You may wish to consider how you aligned vision and goals for the partnership, trust, communication, transparency, decision-making, or other aspects of partnership working. Share your experiences of working with the BBC in your own words if applicable.
  • What went well? [Please limit your response to 350 words.]
  • What could be improved? [Please limit your response to 350 words.]
23 (b). If you are responding on behalf of an organisation with an interest in R&D (e.g. a production company, university, a technology hardware company), how would you like to see the BBC supporting innovation? Please provide relevant evidence, where possible. In your answer, you may wish to consider any specific areas where you think it should focus its leadership; what point of the R&D lifecycle is the BBC’s support most valuable; and how would you like the BBC to partner with organisations like yours in R&D. Please provide relevant evidence, where possible. In your answer, you may wish to consider any specific areas where you think it should focus its leadership; what point of the R&D lifecycle is the BBC’s support most valuable; and how would you like the BBC to partner with organisations like yours in R&D.
  • [Please limit your response to 350 words.]
  • N/A
23 (c). If you represent an organisation in the creative industries, please share your reflections on your experience of the current market impact regulation process and how it could be improved. Please provide relevant evidence, where possible.
  • What went well? [Please limit your response to 350 words.]
  • What could be improved? [Please limit your response to 350 words.]
24. Do you have any further views on the topics or options discussed in this section you wish to expand on?
Unsure or no opinion
Green Paper Chapter 4: Sustainable and fair funding

UK Music are choosing not to answer these questions on how the BBC should be funded, as we do not have all the information to see what the impact of different models would be. We suggest you skip these and go onto question 32.

25. To what extent do you agree that the licence fee should continue to fund a wide range of services and output that aims to inform, educate and entertain audiences?
26. To what extent do you agree that the BBC should use the funding it receives through the licence fee to deliver a broad range of economic benefits to the UK? This could include objectives such as investing in the nations and regions to drive growth across the UK, and developing skills that support the creative economy.
27. To what extent do you agree that the scope of the licence fee should be reformed to support the BBC’s long term sustainability, which could involve requiring more households to pay but with each paying less?
28. To what extent do you agree or disagree that BBC content or services should carry advertising, bearing in mind how this could provide a new income stream for the BBC, how it might impact the audience experience and the impact on other broadcasters?
29. Would you be willing to pay for a BBC top-up subscription service focused on premium and entertainment content, in addition to your licence fee, assuming it was a similar price to other popular video-on-demand subscription services?
30. To what extent do you agree or disagree that new concessions for households facing significant financial pressures should be introduced?
31.To what extent do you agree or disagree that technology should be used to support compliance, for example by requiring households using BBC iPlayer to enter details from their TV licence?

32. Do you have any other views on the BBC’s funding model that you wish to share?

Make the following points in your own words:

  • The BBC should be accessible to everyone.
  • The funding should be sustainable over the long term, and ensure that it can fulfil its public purposes.
  • The BBC has had real terms cuts over many years – it needs additional investment and must not see further real-terms reductions.
  • There should be no cuts to music competitions, music programming, music commissioning or employed ensembles.