UK Music Conservative Party Conference Panel

08 October 2025 - Press release

Leading figures from across politics and the music industry gathered at the Conservative Party Conference to explore how backing British music can drive growth, creativity, and innovation in the years ahead.

 

Hosted by UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, the panel – titled Push the Button: Why Backing British Music Will Kick Start Growth – brought together Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee; Sophie Jones, BPI Chief Strategy Officer; Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Conservative Peer and former Intellectual Property Minister; and Gary McClarnan, CEO of Sparklestreet Projects and long-time music industry fixer.

Opening the discussion, Dame Caroline Dinenage celebrated the strength of the UK’s music sector, pointing to it seeing 16% growth in 2023 – a figure, she said “many industries would bite your arm off for”.

However, she warned that we cannot afford to be complacent, highlighting the CMS Select Committee’s inquiries into grassroots music venues, major live events, and its fan-led review of music as revealing fragilities within the sector. “Last year was the first time in a long while that a British artist didn’t feature among the world’s top ten,” she added.

Sophie Jones, BPI’s Chief Strategy Officer, spoke about the unprecedented global competition faced by British artists. “There are 120,000 tracks uploaded to Spotify every day,” she noted. “With 10 million artists on the platform, it is simply harder for UK artists to break through.”

While celebrating recent chart success for Olivia Dean, Sophie was keen to highlight that intellectual property is the lifeblood of the sector, warning that current plans around AI pose a threat to the UK’s standing in the global market. “IP is what makes investment possible: copyright shouldn’t be seen as a barrier but as the enabler that drives growth.”

Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe built on this, reflecting on her time as Intellectual Property Minister and describing IP as “the beating heart of the creative economy”. She commented that “behind every song and performance sits an ecosystem of jobs, from events and broadcasting to law and professional services, all of which depend on a strong rights framework.” She warned that a lack of understanding of IP was slowing progress in tackling the challenges posed by AI.

Gary McClarnan highlighted the often-overlooked category of ‘working musicians’ – the 95 per cent who, while not global superstars, sustain their careers through a mix of recording, performing, songwriting, teaching, and other creative work.

“They are the backbone of the industry,” he said. “They’re entrepreneurs as much as creatives, and they need the tools, confidence and support to run their own businesses.”

He raised that the Government must do more to create a positive environment for investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship from this group.

Questions from the audience covered a wide range of issues, from ethical AI and copyright enforcement, VAT, tax credits and what other countries we can learn from. Dame Caroline Dinenage noted that the CMS Select Committee recommended a VAT cut for grassroots music venues. Gary added that such cuts might not directly benefit artists, suggesting that a VAT reduction focused on ticket sales would have a greater impact, as some revenue would flow directly to creators.

Responding to a question on tax incentives, Baroness Neville-Rolfe said that “it comes down to influence – if you are able to ally with other similar SMEs you may be more likely to get Government support.”

On an international note, Sophie Jones reacted to a question about lessons from other countries by highlighting how Australia is taking interesting steps to promote its music globally. She also agreed with Gary McClarnan that Ireland’s music scene is doing a lot right, noting that two Irish artists had recently been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

Tom Kiehl wrapped up the panel, highlighting UK Music’s Hometown Glory report, which highlights how local Government initiatives can drive economic growth.