29.04.2024: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has hailed the power of the UK’s night time economy while calling for the protection of the nation’s crucial grassroots venues at the NTIA (Night Time Industries Association) Ambassadors of the Night Awards.

Speaking at London’s iconic Hippodrome on Monday April 28, Tom Kiehl took to the stage to highlight the vital role of the night time industries in driving the music industry’s £7.6 billion contribution to the economy, as well as the 210,000-plus jobs it supports.

However, while keen to celebrate the night-time industries, he also warned that the grassroots sector that is so essential its future prosperity must be not only protected but nurtured. Without a buoyant grassroots circuit for artists to cut their teeth, the industry is at serious risk of losing out on generations of world-beating stars and depriving communities of invaluable cultural hubs.

You can read a fuller version of Tom Kiehl’s NTIA Ambassadors of the Night Awards address below:

“Good evening and thank you for inviting me to speak to you. My name is Tom Kiehl and I am Chief Executive of UK Music. My organisation brings together the UK music industry as its collective voice. We collaborate, champion and campaign on behalf of the sector to ensure the music industry can continue to grow. We want to unlock talent across the country and work closely with central and local government, as well as Parliament to achieve these aims.

“Firstly, I would like to thank the Night Time Industries Association and their fantastic Chief Executive Michael Kill for inviting me to speak at the Ambassadors of the Night Awards 2025. I recently found out that, like me, Michael originally comes from Portsmouth. It’s great to see Pompey boys flourish and I am sure that he will join me in looking forward to perhaps the only upside for Southampton of their terrible season – the prospect of a south coast derby with us next time. Apologies to any Saints fans in the audience!

“UK Music is made up of 10 member organisations. Some of them you may have heard of, some of them you may have not. Together they reflect key component parts of the music industry, ranging from record companies and music publishers, licensing societies and representative creator organisations. We also work closely with the live sector to ensure that the music industry is aligned on all the key issues impacting that part of the music industry too.

“The music industry as a whole is currently worth £7.6 billion to the economy, generates exports of £4.6 billion and employs over 210,000 people. The industry continues to contribute to economic growth, and it has a profound impact on other parts of the economy too.

“One example of this is tourism. The total number of music tourists, either those travelling across the UK or coming from overseas and attending live music events in 2023 was 19.2 million people. This was an increase of 33%, generating spend of £8 billion, representing 21% growth.

“Another example is the night time economy. UK Music recognises the vital importance of the night time economy, as well as the industries that support it, to the music sector.

“The night time economy benefits hugely from the fantastic artists, performers, musicians, composers and songwriters that make up the music industry. But this is a mutual and interconnected relationship. Without the clubs, bars, restaurants, promoters and event organisers, security professionals, legal experts and transport operators that make up the night time economy, it would be very challenging to maintain and develop a sustainable music sector and develop the future talent of tomorrow.

“UK Music has existed for over 17 years. During this time we have regularly campaigned for and supported a number of measures to ensure the continued growth of music and the night time economy.

“One of our early successes was around licensing law and ensuring small scale performances of music were decoupled from the Licensing Act. The Live Music Act 2012 was heralded at the time as a game changer. For too long musicians and venues were tangled up in red tape. The passing of the Act demonstrated the power of a sector coming together to speak with one voice and underlined a willingness between policymakers, industry and the night time economy to achieve things.

“I believe that more can be done in this area and we need to take a look at the Licensing Act again to see whether it can be reconfigured to place a more positive duty on local authorities. At present the four governing licensing objectives are predicated on a preventive basis, meaning there is little justification for a licensing authority to look at the positive impact of a new venue or club could bring to a community, culture or the night time economy. I therefore want us to unite and campaign together to redress this imbalance, to achieve a fifth positive licensing objective.

“UK Music also campaigned for the abolition of Form 696, a racist approach to event management which discriminated against Black and other related forms of music. The Form acted as a barrier to putting on live events across London. While we were pleased to see the back of this Form in 2017, it is clear that it still has a legacy that needs to be overcome. This is why UK Music strongly supports the REMEL project, led by Black Lives in Music, in order to eliminate discrimination across events.

“The relationship between music, local authorities and the night time economy is crucial and I would like to highlight some specific recommendations that UK Music has made to ensure this thrives.

“Contained within UK Music’s Here, There and Everywhere report, our “The Music Powerhouses Toolkit: A Guide For Towns, Cities and Regions” includes four recommendations for local councils on how to build their own music communities.

“Firstly, we ask local authorities to use data to ensure music is at the heart of planning and licensing policy.

“Secondly, authorities should create a register of available spaces and places to support music activities.

“Thirdly, councils should enshrine music and the local community in regeneration and development plans.

“Finally, local authorities should set up or support city-wide music advisory boards.

“Beyond fighting discrimination, bureaucracy and red tape, UK Music has also taken a proactive approach to supporting a greater strategic approach to the way local authorities support the night time economy. We have been active participants in discussions across the country about Music Boards, Night Czars and Night Time Commissions, working with leaders in London, Yorkshire, Liverpool, Greater Manchester and Bristol to develop plans that mean music and the night time economy can flourish. I truly believe that most decisions are best made at a local level, with an understanding of the impact on our communities. Therefore, it is imperative that the voice of the night time economy is loud and clear in these discussions, and at a time of local government reorganisation and further devolution we need more of these initiatives to make sure we aren’t forgotten about at a time of considerable change.

“While on the subject of the approach of the new government, UK Music desperately wants to work with the NTIA and the night time economy to ensure protections like the agent of change principle is both reinforced and strengthened in planning law. When faced with potential planning liberalisation, agent of change is a vital protection, meaning the impact of a new housing development on existing businesses like pubs and clubs ought to be taken into account when planning decisions are being made.

“I know very well that lockdown had a very devastating impact on many of your businesses. UK Music was at the forefront of campaigns to get more support from government at this time, including VAT cuts. However, I wholeheartedly agree that the way it was administered unfairly discriminated against elements of the night time economy. For a night time economy faced with an urgent crisis, as Chief Executive of UK Music I very much back the NTIA’s call for an all-encompassing VAT cut, and that this should include admission tickets, food, soft drinks and alcohol.

“The grassroots music sector in all its forms is currently at a very fragile point. As we look back on the past year I firmly see this as a pivotal moment for the UK music industry and night time economy coming together, one where political change in all its manifestations has provided great opportunity to reset relationships as we embark on tackling the big issues.

“I would like to wish you all well for the rest of this evening, and look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.”