18.11.2025: UK Music has called on the Government to deliver on a number of crucial points to ensure our £8 billion sector maintains its world-leading status, from protecting rightsholders from unscrupulous AI firms, to boosting the vast contribution music makes to the economy. 

UK Music’s key asks are outlined in our landmark This Is Music report into the financial health of the UK music sector, which you can find out more about and read here.

The report demonstrates that while there is growth across the music industry, there are challenges. The next year presents a number of opportunities that must not be missed to put music at the heart of the policy agenda. From implementing the Creative Industries Sector Plan, Curriculum Review and National Centre for Arts and Music Education.

There is also the rolling out of the Music Growth Package, BBC Charter Renewal, and business rate reviews. We will also continue to push for fiscal incentives to encourage investment through a tax relief and legislating for price caps on ticket resales.

However, above all, there are two overarching factors that threaten the continued success of our world-leading sector: Unregulated AI and barriers to global exports.

Here are some specific steps the government can take to remove these obstacles to continued growth:

Artificial Intelligence

• Reject any copyright exception that undermines the basic principle for how music is used and compensated for.
• Introduce legal obligations on AI developers to disclose copyright works used in training.
• Establish a legal requirement for clear labelling of AI-generated music.
• Ensure that companies accessing UK markets comply with UK laws on AI and copyright.
• Explore personality rights to provide individuals with legal protection over the use of their image, likeness, voice, and personal identity.

Global Exports

• Secure an agreement with the EU to remove barriers to cultural exchange such as visa and work permit requirements.
• Negotiate a reciprocal agreement with the USA on visa fees for performing artists and crews and ensure the interests of UK music industry are protected in any trade deals and tariff negotiations.
• Remove UK-specific barriers to global exports by cutting costs and red tape around ATA Carnet (often referred to as a passport for goods) and Musical Instrument Certificates.
• Establish a Taskforce to develop an international strategy for music in the face of increased global competition.

The key headline statistics in UK Music’s This Is Music 2025 report are:

• UK music’s contribution to the UK economy in 2024 hit a record £8 billion in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) – up 5% from £7.6 billion in 2023. 
• UK music exports revenue in 2024 reached a new high of £4.8 billion – up 5% from £4.6 billion in 2023 (please see under editors notes for definition of ‘revenue’ and ‘GVA’)
• Total UK music industry employment in 2024 hit a record 220,000 (full-time equivalent posts) – up 2% from 216,000 in 2023.

UK Music’s Chief Executive Tom Kiehl welcomed the figures but warned that the UK music industry faced a number of challenges that threatened its world-leading status.

The report was also praised by political leaders including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper MP, who paid tribute to the music industry as “one of our greatest international success stories”.

You can find out more about This Is Music and read the report here.