Small venues and industry leaders have been battling over the last few years to attempt to secure more funding and security for venues and upcoming artists. 

The last 12 months have seen steps in the right direction, including a government committee hearing where politicians were warned that intervention was needed urgently. Now – in perhaps the biggest boost of optimism – the Prime Minister has declared that he shares the same viewpoint as those arguing for more support.

Speaking in Milton Keynes yesterday (August 6), Starmer announced “a major expansion in youth services funding” which will see £88 million being invested in youth clubs and schools – in an attempt to get young people involved with music, sports and the arts.

I know how difficult it is raising children in an online world.

Today we’ve announced a major expansion in youth services funding, to support youth clubs, after school activities and local organisations — connecting young people to their communities.

Our Plan for Change is…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 6, 2025

NME spoke to the Prime Minister at the event, where they asked him about the threat facing UK grassroots venues and upcoming musicians.

Perhaps the biggest proposal from industry leaders is the £1 ticket levy. This would see any arena level or above gig in the UK give £1 of every ticket sold to a grassroots fund. Although this has seen backing from MPs such as Sir Chris Bryant MP, the pace of the rollout of such a levy is causing concern.

When asked about the proposal, Starmer confirmed his support, saying: “I’m very supportive of this initiative, the £1 ticket levy going back into grassroots, because so much of our music is grassroots. It’s obviously where a lot of musicians start off, and therefore I’m hugely supportive of it. I’d like to see it expanded even more, but I want to support it in any way we can.”

Despite the promising movements towards the introduction of the ticket levy, it is clear that action and legislation is needed much more urgently. Speaking at the government committee back in May, Music Venue Trust (MVT) CEO Mark Davyd warned that it could be another decade until the levy is fully in place: “Of nearly 6 million tickets that have been released since the December 18 ministerial meeting when we all agreed that it was going to be on every ticket, 92 per cent of those tickets don’t have it.”

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PM Keir Starmer shared the sentiment of Mark Davyd, saying more support is needed: “We need to support venues – large and small – across the country. I’ll be looking at what we can do in order to give them the chance not just to survive, but to thrive. There are so many different types of venues in different places where artists have performed for the first time, and go on to do amazing things.

“But also it’s where young people in particular access their first live gig. It’s likely to be the one nearest where they live – then that gives them an appetite to go to see more and more live music. We need more live music and we need to support it.”

Independent venues and upcoming artists all around the country will be hoping that these are not just hollow words. As the government committee heard in May, the creative industry is at real risk of dying. However, these words from the Prime Minister along with the recently announced fan-led review of live music, offer a glimmer of hope to those campaigning for urgent change.

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The initiative comes amid growing concerns over cuts to arts funding and the diminishing role of music in the national curriculum. Reports have shown that music education in state schools has suffered significantly over the past decade, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. The open letter argues that without proper funding, music will become an exclusive privilege for wealthier students, further deepening inequalities in the industry.

Sheeran, who himself benefited from state-funded programmes in his youth, stressed the importance of ensuring that young people, regardless of background, have the chance to pursue a career in music. In his Instagram post, the musician said: “As a young music student and aspiring artist, I benefited from opportunities in and out of school to learn & grow. Unfortunately, after decades of defunding and de-prioritising, music is no longer a right for all children – it’s a luxury for only a few.”

Other notable artists who have co-signed the letter include Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Myles Smith, who also commented on Sheeran’s post stating: “Governments need to realise the importance of music not only as a cultural export and financial hub, but as the foundation and key feature of our society and community. Growing up in working-class Luton, access to music wasn’t just a way out – it was a way of living. It gave me purpose, belonging, and a voice. That’s why investing in music matters. It changes lives. It changed mine.” In January 2025, Sheeran has established the Ed Sheeran Foundation, aiming to empower children across the UK with meaningful music education. The foundation seeks to address the decline in music education within state schools by providing support and advocating for equal access to high-quality music programs. ​

 

 

 

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Additionally, The UK-based charity, Youth Music, invests in grassroots organisations and young creatives to ensure all young people have access to music. Over 25 years, Youth Music has invested over £263 million to secure music’s future and improve industry representation, making the next generation of creative talent more diverse and inclusive.​In November 2024, they partnered with Spotify to create a dedicated fund aimed at supporting 15 grassroots youth spaces across the UK that were facing imminent closure or struggling to survive.

The letter calls for a long-term funding commitment to improve music education infrastructure, hire specialist teachers, and provide instruments to students in need. Whilst the government has yet to issue a formal response, campaigners hope that growing public support will put pressure on policymakers to act swiftly. This bold move by Sheeran and his fellow artists signals a crucial moment for the future of music education in the UK.

The Labour government has expressed intentions to reset relations with the EU, aiming to address trade and mobility issues affecting various sectors, including the creative industries. Labour leader Keir Starmer has acknowledged the challenges facing UK musicians and has pledged to work towards a bilateral agreement with the EU to remove excessive barriers. His proposed plan includes advocating for visa waivers for touring artists, streamlining customs processes, and collaborating with industry stakeholders to ensure UK talent remains competitive on the international stage.

A recent report by the UK Music industry body highlighted that many artists have been forced to cancel European tours due to financial constraints. Some festivals and venues in the EU are also reluctant to book UK acts, given the bureaucratic hassle of hiring British talent.

At this year’s Members Day, ISM President @nickythespence spoke to Katie Derham about the barriers musicians face with touring the EU post-Brexit.

Sharing personal experiences, Nicky explained how complicated red tape is ‘diminishing’ the UK’s musical exportpic.twitter.com/5Gz7dg0NhA

— ISM (@ISM_music) September 19, 2024

Several UK musicians have publicly expressed concerns about the challenges they face when touring in the European Union post-Brexit. For instance, Kate Nash and Lily Allen have both joined OnlyFans to help fund their musical careers. Additionally, internationally acclaimed baritone Simon Wallfisch said for Clash magazine: “I took it for granted as a young musician that I could work as easily in Munich as I could in Manchester. It is devastating to see how young British musicians today will never experience the world-is-your-oyster mentality I felt as a young musician.”