01.10.2025: UK Music is set to highlight the power of music in turbocharging economic growth at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Titled Push The Button: Why Backing British Music Will Kick Start Growth, the panel promises to be a lively and insightful session. The fantastic line-up includes Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee; Sophie Jones, BPI Chief Strategy Officer; and Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Conservative Peer and former Intellectual Property Minister; and Gary McClarnan Music Industry Fixer and CEO, Sparklestreet Projects. The panel will be chaired by UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl.

The panel session will be held at the Sir David Amess Theatre, Manchester Central (inside secure zone) on Monday October 6 from 13.00 – 14:30.         

Conservative delegates will also have the chance to discuss key issues impacting the music industry, such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the challenges in making progress towards reaching a deal on EU touring, clamping down on touts exploiting the secondary ticketing market and strengthening the sector’s ability to develop future talent.

The session follows the launch of the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan and Music Growth Package, as well as the release of UK Music’s Hometown Glory report which detailed how local music scenes can help generate billions of pounds for regional economies, boost employment and attract millions of domestic and overseas music tourists to towns and cities.

UK Music also hosted panel events at the Liberal Democrats Conference in Bournemouth, the Labour Conference in Liverpool, and is represented at all the main political conferences.