11.09.24: The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) held its inaugural meeting in Parliament to elect its four new officers and discuss plans for the year ahead. 

Pete Wishart, Scottish National Party (SNP) MP for Perth and Kinross-shire, and Alex Sobel MP, Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, were elected as the new co-Chairs for the group.

Liberal Democrat MP for Guildford Zoe Franklin, and Conservative Peer Lord Kempsell were elected as vice-chairs. 

The new co-Chairs thanked outgoing Chair Kevin Brennan, who stood down as a Labour MP at the 2024 General Election, for his service to the group over the years. 

Following the election of the officers, UK Music’s Chief Executive Tom Kiehl shared his four priorities for the APPG on Music: touring in the EU, music education, artificial intelligence (AI) and secondary ticketing. Tom also reflected on the current condition of the UK music industry and the pressing need to ensure new talent can thrive in a growing, global market. 

The Parliamentarians then received a presentation from ABBA Voyage Producer, Svana Gisla. Svana explained the history behind ABBA Voyage which opened in May 2022 and has already welcomed over 2.5 million visitors – 20% of whom come from overseas.

In an informative Q and A with the Parliamentarians, she talked about the importance of investing in music education, the power of technology when used correctly, and the issues for touring musicians caused by leaving the EU.  

The meeting was attended by several Parliamentarians including Pete Wishart MP, Alex Sobel MP, Zoe Franklin MP, Lewis Atkinson MP, Jonathan Davies MP, Shaun Davies MP, John Whitby MP, Richard Holden MP, Lord Watts, Lord Watson, Lord Aberdare, the Earl of Clancarty and the office of Sharon Hodgson MP.