UK Music chief executive Tom Kiehl has set out five key tests for incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, days after Burnham took over from Keir Starmer following his election as Labour leader.
The trade body’s five-point plan calls for the removal of EU touring barriers for musicians and crew, a crackdown on ticket touts, the use of devolved powers to grow regional music scenes, tougher copyright protections around AI, and continued, well-funded BBC support for grassroots music. Kiehl framed the barriers to EU touring as a direct hangover from Brexit, calling on the new government to “tear down the barriers of red tape and extra costs” facing performers and crew.
UK Music says the sector contributes £8 billion to the UK economy each year, generates £4.8 billion in exports, and supports 220,000 jobs. The demands follow the Government’s Music Plan, unveiled on July 13th at UK Music’s summer party, which included a reported £45 million package of investment for the industry.
Burnham, who served as Culture Secretary before becoming Greater Manchester’s mayor, is well known in the industry for his enthusiasm for music; his by-election playlist was widely covered by the music press as he made his return to the Commons. In his first speech as Prime Minister, he pledged his government would act as “a circuit breaker for Britain.”
Industry figures have cautiously welcomed his appointment. Adam Webb of the Fan Fair Alliance said Burnham’s arrival gives campaigners “real hope that we’ll now see progress” on the long-delayed ban on ticket touting, while others in the sector have called for the government’s recent announcements to translate into concrete action rather than further pledges.
