Responding to the Chancellor’s Spending Review, UK Music Chief
Executive said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a £4 billion
levelling up fund which we hope will be a much-needed boost for
the creative sector.
“We look forward to engaging with the Government to explore how
that fund can be used to ensure the music industry helps drive
growth the country needs and that we all want to see.
“Music and music venues are integral to the local economies of
towns and cities everywhere. We hope this fund could be used to
further support the vital role they already play.
“With the right support to help the music industry get back on
its feet, we are determined be at the forefront of the
post-pandemic economic and cultural recovery.
“The music industry contributed £5.8 billion a year to the
economy and sustained almost 200,000 jobs pre-Covid. We are keen
to get our live venues back in action as swiftly as possible to
spread some joy and deliver a shot in the arm for our economy.”
Mr Njoku-Goodwin also welcomed the announcement of a package of
support for tourism with a new City of Culture competition.
He said: “More than 12 million music tourists spent £4.7 billion
in 2019 at venues across the UK.
“A new City of Culture competition will help shine the spotlight
on some of the vibrant and diverse music scenes that make our
venues such a magnet for visitors from home and abroad.”
