Blab Music
UK Unveils 45 Million Music Growth Package and New Plan to Support Songwriters, Education and Industry Reform
On July 13 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport unveiled a sweeping strategy for Britain’s music sector, christened Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music. The announcement set the stage for a £45 million investment spread over three years, an expansion of the existing Music Growth Package, and a suite of regulatory reforms aimed at empowering more than 2,000 projects and over 40,000 people across the industry.
The new funding will be administered through Arts Council England, which will contribute £15 million of the total. The remaining £30 million was originally earmarked for the Music Growth Package in 2025; the increase reflects a commitment to broaden the reach of the scheme. With an emphasis on accessibility for individual creators—a priority championed by the Ivors Academy—the package is designed to deliver tangible support to songwriters, composers, and other creative professionals.
The Ivors Academy, a professional association for songwriters, lyricists and composers, has been working closely with Arts Council England to streamline application processes for creators. CEO Roberto Neri welcomed the investment: "We welcome the £45 million Music Growth Package and the government’s recognition that the music industry starts with its creators. We look forward to working closely with the government and Arts Council England to ensure this investment delivers meaningful, direct benefits for songwriters and composers, helping more creators build sustainable careers. We also welcome Michael Dugher back to the music industry as the government’s Music Champion." Neri added that songwriters and composers must receive fair value and protection.
Education reforms form a core pillar of the plan. From September 2028, the National Curriculum will be overhauled to give every child a robust foundation in music. The government will also abolish the EBacc from the current academic year, citing a 47 % decline in students studying music since 2010. The plan launches a National Centre for Arts and Music Education in September 2026 and establishes a Music Hub network from August 2027. Research by the Ivors Academy shows that 96 % of composers nominated for or winning The Ivors Classical Awards learned at least one instrument as a child, and 94 % had opportunities to perform music when they were young.
Regulatory changes grant the government new powers to streamline licensing, support live venues, and improve the distribution of royalties. The plan also appoints Michael Dugher, former CEO of UK Music and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as the government’s Music Champion, tasked with advocating for the sector and driving the plan’s objectives.
The Music Growth Package will fund projects across all genres—from emerging artists to established labels—and will support a range of activities including songwriting workshops, touring assistance and digital infrastructure. The Ivors Academy has previously secured non‑recoupable per‑diems for songwriters working with major record labels, and it will continue to lobby for fair compensation under the new framework.
In sum, the UK government’s Turn It Up plan represents a substantial investment in the music industry’s backbone—songwriters, composers and music education. With the £45 million package, new regulatory powers, and the appointment of a Music Champion, the sector is poised for sustainable growth while ensuring creators receive the support and recognition they deserve.
The new funding will be administered through Arts Council England, which will contribute £15 million of the total. The remaining £30 million was originally earmarked for the Music Growth Package in 2025; the increase reflects a commitment to broaden the reach of the scheme. With an emphasis on accessibility for individual creators—a priority championed by the Ivors Academy—the package is designed to deliver tangible support to songwriters, composers, and other creative professionals.
The Ivors Academy, a professional association for songwriters, lyricists and composers, has been working closely with Arts Council England to streamline application processes for creators. CEO Roberto Neri welcomed the investment: "We welcome the £45 million Music Growth Package and the government’s recognition that the music industry starts with its creators. We look forward to working closely with the government and Arts Council England to ensure this investment delivers meaningful, direct benefits for songwriters and composers, helping more creators build sustainable careers. We also welcome Michael Dugher back to the music industry as the government’s Music Champion." Neri added that songwriters and composers must receive fair value and protection.
Education reforms form a core pillar of the plan. From September 2028, the National Curriculum will be overhauled to give every child a robust foundation in music. The government will also abolish the EBacc from the current academic year, citing a 47 % decline in students studying music since 2010. The plan launches a National Centre for Arts and Music Education in September 2026 and establishes a Music Hub network from August 2027. Research by the Ivors Academy shows that 96 % of composers nominated for or winning The Ivors Classical Awards learned at least one instrument as a child, and 94 % had opportunities to perform music when they were young.
Regulatory changes grant the government new powers to streamline licensing, support live venues, and improve the distribution of royalties. The plan also appoints Michael Dugher, former CEO of UK Music and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as the government’s Music Champion, tasked with advocating for the sector and driving the plan’s objectives.
The Music Growth Package will fund projects across all genres—from emerging artists to established labels—and will support a range of activities including songwriting workshops, touring assistance and digital infrastructure. The Ivors Academy has previously secured non‑recoupable per‑diems for songwriters working with major record labels, and it will continue to lobby for fair compensation under the new framework.
In sum, the UK government’s Turn It Up plan represents a substantial investment in the music industry’s backbone—songwriters, composers and music education. With the £45 million package, new regulatory powers, and the appointment of a Music Champion, the sector is poised for sustainable growth while ensuring creators receive the support and recognition they deserve.
