10.09.2025: UK Music has lined up a brilliant panel for the Liberal Democrat conference to put the spotlight on the challenges facing the music industry. 

Our 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, Chief Executive of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Dougie Scarfe and UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl.  The panel will be chaired by Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Jane Bonham Carter.

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 across the UK.

The discussion will take place on Sunday September 21 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Dorchester South, Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel, which is outside the secure zone.  

The event follows 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 panel will also give Lib Dem delegates the chance 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.

UK Music is also hosting panel events at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool and the Conservative conference in Manchester, and is represented at all the main political conferences.