15.07.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl hailed the economic power of music and called for AI firms to stop stealing the work of the creative industries in his speech at the annual UK Music Summer Party.

Held at the IET London: Savoy Place, the 2025 Summer Party welcomed more than 300 guests from across the worlds of music and politics. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who delivered a rousing speech on the power of music, was joined by Minister of State without portfolio Ellie Reeves, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth Stephanie Peacock, Minister of State in the Department for Education Catherine McKinnell, and Minister for Victims & Violence Against Women and Girls Alex Davies-Jones on the night.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music Co-Chairs Alex Sobel – Labour & Coop MP for Leeds Central and Headingly – and Pete Wishart – SNP MP for Perth and Kinross-shire – were also in attendance, along with fellow MPs Sarah Coombes, Samantha Niblett, Jonathan Davies, Steve Race, Leigh Ingham, Amanda Hack, Patrick Hurley, Bambos Charalambous, Dawn Butler, Chris Curtis, Gordon McKee, Tom Rutland, Sharon Hodgson, Deidre Costigan, Ann Davies, Alec Shelbrooke, Nigel Huddleston, Sian Berry, Gagan Mohindra, Karen Bradley, Mike Wood, Paul Kohler, Natalie Fleet, Rosie Wrighting, Richard Baker and Taiwo Owatemi.

Peers in attendance included Baroness Keeley, Baroness Sugg, Lords Watts, Lord Adebowale, and Lord Brennan of Canton.

A raft of music industry figureheads and executives also joined the party, along with stars including legendary artist Sandie Shaw, acclaimed songwriter Tom Gray, and iconic broadcaster and presenter Steve Lamacq.

Live music was provided on the night by outstanding jazz trio, Soli, from Leeds Conservatoire, one of UK Music’s Music Academic Partners.

The event was opened with an inspiring speech from UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl which set the tone for a night that celebrated all that is great about UK’s world-leading music industry.

You can read Tom’s speech in full below:

“Hello, good evening and welcome. I am Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive of UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We bring the industry together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. What a fantastic performance from jazz trio, Soli, from Leeds Conservatoire, one of UK Music’s Music Academic Partners.

“It’s already been a great year for big musical comebacks. Oasis, Pulp and not forgetting boy band sensation 5ive. Imagine, after all this time, getting five members to stay and work together. The Reform Party can only dream.

“Now, as some of you may know, this isn’t the only party that UK Music holds. I’m told our events at party conferences are almost as hot as an Oasis ticket. Well, in political circles at least!

“I would like to thank the Secretary of State for her fantastic DJ set of Britney bangers in Liverpool last year. I understand “Oops I did it again” is one of Lisa’s favourite songs, written of course about the Conservatives’ approach to removing its party leaders. But don’t worry Kemi, they couldn’t possibly do it One More Time.

“Last year at this very venue, I delivered my debut speech as UK Music’s new Chief Executive. It was a wonderful evening with a huge amount of goodwill and optimism in the room. And it has been a very eventful and busy 12 months since then.

“My incredibly able team at UK Music and our 10 fantastic members – the Association of Independent Music, the BPI, the Featured Artists Coalition, the Ivors Academy, the Music Managers Forum, the Music Publishers Association, the Music Producers Guild, the Musicians Union, and the collective management organisations PPL and PRS for Music – have all been making great progress.

“I know all of you here love and value the importance of music. But it was important for us to see the Government identify music as a key part of its Creative Industries Sector Plan.

“This is fantastic recognition of our sector’s ability to drive growth and jobs way beyond the industry’s £7.6 billion economic contribution and the 210,000 brilliant jobs we support.

“But it’s not just about jobs in the music industry. Music continues to fuel other parts of the economy too.

“Our latest figures published just a fortnight ago revealed that more than 23 million music tourists from home and abroad spent an astonishing £10 billion last year. That’s an incredible boost to hotels, restaurants, the travel industry and everyone connected with our sector.

“We are in the business of creating jobs and income for everyone working in the music industry. However, we are spending much of our energy trying to stop artificial intelligence firms getting a free ride. As I’m sure you all know, the Big Tech firms based in the States seem to think that they can steal the work of our amazing music creators and music businesses without paying for it and without their permission.

“Music is the ultimate form of human artistry. It’s in our hearts and souls. We must stop AI from stealing music – and the many politicians here tonight must continue to play their part.

“Political interest in music is sky high – and it’s not just about the prospect of getting to Glastonbury or seeing the Gallagher brothers reunited and filling arenas.

“Our All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music now has more members than ever before – and it ranks in the top five largest Parliamentary groups. If there are any MPs or Peers here tonight who are not already members, please do sign up!

“While UK Music and our members are making headway when it comes to crucial issues, we face challenges / on a number of fronts.

“Internationally, music is increasingly competitive, with a number of countries now heavily investing in their own music industries as they try to grab a greater share of the market. Just look at the huge success of K-pop for example.

“And, we still need to desperately sort out the mess that is EU touring. The recent EU-UK summit recognised the importance of cultural exchange, but we need much more concrete action from the Government, the EU and member states to make touring much easier.

“Domestically, our ability to develop the future talent of tomorrow continues to face a number of obstacles that urgently need fixing. This includes helping artists and recording studios hit by spiralling costs – and backing measures to ensure venues and festivals thrive.

“There is great music being made right across the UK, and I want to thank all of you in this room tonight who are a big part of that.

“I’d just like to leave you with this final thought: Music makes everyone feel better. It makes us all feel happier, healthier and more connected with those around us. It enriches our cultural fabric and enriches our economy.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to a huge festival or the Royal Albert Hall, a tiny gig in the back room of a pub in Bristol, browsing the vinyl in a record store in Glasgow, or visiting a music studio in Manchester. I would urge everyone to just get out there and support our job-creating, growth-delivering, diverse, uplifting and all round amazing, UK music industry!”