29.09.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl met Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves as the Labour Party Conference 2025 opened in Liverpool.
Tom and the Chancellor discussed the importance of finding an approach to ensure that our world-leading £7.6 billion music industry can maintain its competitive advantage. During their meeting, Tom thanked the Chancellor for the Creative Industries Sector Plan and supporting music growth package, which will invest £30 million in music over three years.
Tom also asked the Chancellor to consider the definitions of recording studios with regard to business rates ahead of the Autumn budget, and urged a balanced approach on AI to ensure music businesses and creators can fully benefit from technological innovation without tearing up the copyright framework.
Their meeting comes after UK Music attended a special reception at 10 Downing Street on September 22 as part of this year’s Bradford City of Culture Celebrations. While there they met with Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP, and other cultural leaders from across Bradford and the UK.
On September 10, UK Music hosted a reception with drinks and music as part of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport conference in Bradford. The event marked our ongoing work to support local authorities and help unlock growth through our Local Music Acton Charter.
Speaking at the event in Bradford, UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl underlined the vital role that music plays not just nationally but locally. He set out how UK Music’s Hometown Glory report on music tourism provides a roadmap for local leaders to utilise music, embedding it into local strategies to support skills, tourism, and economic growth.
He encouraged all local leaders to back this vision by signing up to the Local Music Action Charter. The charter offers local economies and communities a practical framework that enables local leaders to identify priority areas such as growth, high streets, or education, and take forward meaningful policy actions in these areas.
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