Festivals get longer licences and red tape cut in £45m music plan

The small businesses behind Britain’s live music industry have been handed a rare piece of good news, as the government’s first long-term music strategy promises a £45 million growth fund, lighter-touch festival licensing and a two-year freeze on business rates bills for venues.

Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music, launched by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Monday, sets out how ministers intend to grow a sector worth at least £8 billion to the economy. Crucially for the independent operators who make up most of it, the plan reaches beyond stadium headliners to the promoters, labels, managers and venues that develop talent.

The Music Growth Package, now boosted to £45 million after a £15 million injection from Arts Council England, will support more than 2,000 projects and at least 40,000 artists and music professionals over three years. For the first time, the funding will also be open to mid-career artists, band managers, labels and publishers, many of them small firms and freelancers.

For festival and event organisers, the licensing reforms may prove the most practical win. Temporary Event Notices will rise from 15 to 20 per year, with total event days up from 21 to 26, while festivals will be offered longer licences, a minimum of three years for new events and five years for existing ones. A 15 per cent business rates relief for live music venues has also been confirmed, with bills frozen for the next two years.

The Night Time Industries Association, which represents clubs, bars and late-night operators across the UK, worked alongside government and UK Music in shaping the plan and says many of the sector’s priorities are reflected in it.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see the Government deliver a long term strategy that recognises music as one of the UK’s greatest cultural and economic assets. We have been proud to work alongside colleagues from across the industry to help shape this plan and it is positive to see that collaboration translate into meaningful action.”

“The success of UK music depends on every part of the ecosystem working together. That means supporting not only artists and venues, but also festivals, promoters, clubs, DJs, producers, electronic music and the independent businesses that develop talent and create opportunities across the country. These are all vital parts of our music landscape and deserve recognition and support.”

The warm words mark a change of tone from an association that only weeks ago branded the Chancellor’s summer VAT cut a ‘superficial fix’ that sidelined clubs and festivals. The underlying pressures have not gone away. Industry research has warned that the late-night economy could lose 10,000 businesses and 150,000 jobs by 2028 without intervention, even as music tourism delivers a record £11.2 billion for UK towns and cities.

Kill acknowledged as much. “The commitments to invest in grassroots music, reform festival licensing and support future talent are positive steps. There is still work ahead to secure the long term sustainability of venues, clubs and independent operators, but this plan provides a strong foundation and we look forward to continuing to work with government and industry partners to help deliver it.”

For the SMEs that keep Britain’s stages lit, the plan is a foundation rather than a fix. But after years of asking Whitehall to listen, the industry will settle for a government finally singing from the same song sheet.