21.09.2026: UK Music put the power of devolution and local music ecosystems centre stage at the Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference, hosting a packed panel chaired by Chief Executive Tom Kiehl under the banner of Madchesterism.

The fringe event sought to explore how devolution can unlock the full economic and cultural potential of the UK’s world-leading music industry, which generates £8 billion a year for the UK economy and supports 220,000 jobs.

The event brought together senior political and industry voices: Anna Sabine MP, Liberal Democrat Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson; Lord Tim Clement-Jones, the party’s AI and Digital Spokesperson; Cllr Darryl Smalley of the Local Government Association; and Martha Cleary, founder of Glow Artists. More than 50 attendees joined the discussion, including artists, councillors, educators and Baroness Jane Bonham Carter, CMS spokesperson in the Lords. Tom Kiehl opened by outlining UK Music’s recent research into devolution which highlighted the patchy but promising landscape across Strategic Authorities. The research report offers five core principles for thriving local music sectors — from cultural mapping and leadership to skills pipelines and planning tools.

Launching the Liberal Democrats’ music manifesto, Anna Sabine MP spoke about the need to rebuild music education, drawing on her own journey of playing the bassoon. She warned that without proper investment and coordination between DfE and DCMS, the talent pipeline risks collapsing.

Martha Cleary emphasised the impact artists can have in communities, but stressed many emerging artists struggle financially long before reaching the studio or touring stage. She urged protection for BBC Introducing and more creative funding routes.

Cllr Darryl Smalley called for devolved licensing powers to help councils safeguard venues and shape local cultural strategies, while Lord Clement-Jones warned that unregulated AI poses major risks to creators and stressed the need to defend copyright.

Audience questions ranged from music education and adopting the EU festival cities scheme to community radio and the cost of building a career in music. Garage MC Tre Lowe (of The Architects)— now a Liberal Democrat member — asked how artists could be better integrated into schools and local cultural life to help encourage engagement in the industry.

Despite differing positions on what should be devolved, the panel agreed devolution can unlock huge potential for music, but only if councils, combined authorities and national government work together to protect venues, invest in education and champion creativity at every level.

Find out more about UK Music’s Local Music Action Charter here.

Read our roundup of the panel session here.

You can view a photo gallery of the conference panel session here.