21.09.2026: UK Music has unveiled our line-up for Labour’s party conference in Liverpool where we will be putting Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the Government’s devolution agenda under the spotlight.
Our theme this year is Madchesterism: Putting Music at the Heart of Devolution. As power shifts from Westminster to our towns, cities and regions, we discuss with policymakers and delegates how music can drive growth, strengthen communities and inspire the next generation.
Our panel at Labour’s conference in Liverpool take place on Monday September 28 at 11.30am-1pm at the Hilton City Centre hotel (just across the road from the docks and conference centre) in Albert Suite 4. No conference pass is needed.
The panellists at the event, chaired by UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, are set to include Creative Industries Minister Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music Co-Chair Alex Sobel MP, Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl, BPI Chief Executive Dr Jo Twist OBE and UK Music’s Head of Diversity Eunice Obianagha.
Our conference season follows the launch of the Government’s Music Plan at UK Music’s summer party in July. You can read more about the Music Plan on our website here.
To coincide with the party conference season, UK Music has commissioned new research to help show how the music industry can be a key part of the Government’s devolution agenda.
UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl explained how the new report will support UK Music’s work at the party conferences.
Tom said: “UK Music has commissioned Groundwork Research to deliver ‘Devolution Amplified’. This research paper, published to coincide with the 2026 party political conference season, is intended to stimulate discussion amongst the music industry, politicians, local leaders and opinion formers about what devolution could mean for the sector and how far it could potentially go.”
Join us at as we discuss how devolution can unlock the full economic and cultural potential of the UK’s world-leading music industry, which generates £8 billion a year for the UK economy and supports 220,000 jobs.
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