New manifesto calls for focus on recruitment of music teachers

UK Music has collated a Manifesto for Music urging the government to recruit an army of music teachers, with a view to help the industry grow and nurture upcoming talent.

Released on 12 September, the manifesto consists of a five-point blueprint plan; this has been published ahead of the 2024 General Election and party conferences.

UK Music says it was collated with the view to avoid there being a ‘lost generation of talent’.

The key recommendations include:

• Greater investment into music education and teacher training
• Having stronger copyright standards amid the growth of AI
• Securing a Cultural Touring Agreement with the EU to solve the European Touring Crisis
• Encouraging new UK music production with a tax credit
• Ending secondary ticketing practices.

Other suggestions in the manifesto include promoting diversity, protecting music spaces and boosting exports.

Promoting music education is also emphasised as the number of students taking A Level Music has fallen by 45% since 2010 in the UK, according to the ISM.

‘Unless we invest in our young people and give them the opportunity of musical education, there will be an existential threat to the talent pipeline on which the music industry relies,’ says UK Music’s interim Chief Executive Tom Kiehl. ‘That will make us poorer as a nation both culturally and economically and cannot be allowed to happen.’

UK Music has recently met with PM Rishi Sunak’s officials at Downing Street about the potential effects of AI on the UK’s music industry and what the future holds.

‘We have a world-leading music industry in the UK. We are the world’s second largest music exporter. Without action, the UK risks being overtaken by countries who are more proactive and ambitious in promoting their music sectors,’ says Kiehl.

The Manifesto for Music can be read on UK Music’s website.