08.09.2025: UK Music is heading to the party conferences to push the buttons of political leaders by championing the music industry and highlighting the challenges it faces. 

As the collective voice of the UK music industry, we are again hosting three panels with a brilliant line-up of guests at the political party conferences. Titled Push The Button: Why Backing British Music Will Kickstart Growth, the discussions will centre on how political support at a local and national level for the UK music industry can drive economic growth right across the UK.

The events follow the launch of the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan and Music Growth Package, as well as the release in July of UK Music’s Hometown Glory report which showed how local music scenes can help generate billions of pounds for regional economies, support jobs and attract millions of domestic and overseas music tourists to towns and cities.

The panels also present an opportunity to discuss key issues impacting the music industry, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), progress towards reaching a deal on EU touring, sorting out the secondary ticketing market and strengthening the sector’s ability to develop future talent.

The Liberal Democrat conference panel in Bournemouth is set to feature Liberal Democrat MP and Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport Max Wilkinson MP, Public Affairs Manager at PRS for Music Meg Harding, and Chief Executive of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Dougie Scarfe.

The discussion will take place on Sunday September 21 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Dorchester South, Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel, outside the secure zone.  On Saturday September 20, we are co-hosting the Liberal Democrat disco alongside TikTok, which is an invitation-only event.

Our panel at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool is set to include East Thanet MP Polly Billington, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union Naomi Pohl, and Chief Public Policy Officer at the Music Publishers Association Ornella Akanga.

The panel will be held on Monday September 29 from 1pm to 2.30pm at Albert 3, Hilton Hotel Liverpool, which is outside the secure zone. We are also hosting an invitation-only event alongside TikTok and Labour Students featuring live music on Tuesday September 30. 

The panel at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester will take place on Monday October 6 from 1pm to 2.30pm in the Sir David Amess Theatre at Manchester Central, which is inside the secure zone.

Panellists are set to include the BPI’s Chief Strategy Officer Sophie Jones, and former IP Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe. Our annual live music event alongside TikTok will take place on the evening of Tuesday October 7. It is an invite-only event.

UK Music was represented at the two-day Reform UK conference which took place over the weekend where we co-hosted an event for party members and guests with TikTok on Friday September 5. 

We will also be represented at the conferences of the Green Party, SNP and Plaid Cymru over the coming weeks.