On Monday 16^th Sept at their National Conference the Liberal Democrats have passed national policy calling for a Fair Deal for Musicians.  

The Liberal Democrats are calling on all politicians to work together with the music industry to save the future of music in the UK.  

There are serious challenges for musicians and venues which are making it ever less viable to choose a career in music – or even learn an instrument.   Insufficient music education funding, grassroots venues closing at a rate of 1 a week, Brexit barriers to touring in Europe, increases in noise complaints across the country, and the rise of AI to name just a few challenges. 

The foundations of the UK music industry are crumbling, and if these issues are not addressed – where will the industry be in the next 10 or 20 years?

Specific asks within the new Liberal Democrat policy include: 

• Backing calls for a levy on large venue ticket sales to fund grassroots music venues, as well as a short term, targeted VAT cut.  
• The restoration of funding for music education locally and nationally. 
• Protecting Musicians’ right to practice at home within reasonable hours 
• Protecting existing Live Music Venues from unreasonable complaints by embedding the “Agent of Change” principle into law.
• Removing barriers to musicians touring the EU, and vice versa.  
• Properly regulating the secondary ticketing market, and banning surge pricing.  

The fair regulation of AI in the creative industries is also a key priority – and the Lib Dem Creative network will be working to ensure there are specific regulations to protect creatives’ IP in Lib Dem policy on Science & Technology. 

In particular this latest policy highlights recommendations from the DCMS committee made in April that the government should step in to impose a levy on large venues if they have not done so voluntarily by September.    

Charlie Clinton, a part time musician leading the campaign to save the future of music within the Lib Dems said while moving the motion: 

“As the Lib Dem candidate for Holborn & St Pancras in the General election, at the count I personally reminded Keir Starmer about the DCMS recommendations– because he was once again elected as the MP for some of our most famous grassroots venues in Camden Town.  Now by passing this motion today we will send a message to the Labour government & the industry that the Liberal Democrats have not forgotten about it – and neither should they.”

Jamie Stone, Lib Dem MP for Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross summated on the motion & shared on X: “Music is not only for musicians, it is for everyone. It should always be in our interests to enable individuals and businesses who produce, host, share and enjoy music.”  

Jess Brown-Fuller, the new Lib Dem MP for Chicester – moving the amendment calling for regulation of exploitative ticketing practices said: “Music at all levels needs to be accessible, from seeing your local community choir to seeing Oasis at Wembley, and that’s why we need to end the exploitation of fans by ticket touts, and to ban the use of surge pricing by ticket platforms” 

Passing the motion at national conference now makes this official Liberal Democrat policy, and follows similar motions passed at London Regional Conference in Feb 2024, and then by Camden Council in July 2024.  

The ambition is to bring the proposals to more councils across the country, directly encouraging local politicians of all parties to take action locally, and to pressure the national government & all MPs.