Responding to the news that Boris Johnson is the new Prime Minister, Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, said:

“The BPI welcomes the new Prime Minister and looks forward to working with his Government and new Ministers. The music industry is one of the UK’s great economic successes and part of how Britain promotes itself to the world. We hope to work with the new Government to strengthen the foundations of our thriving national music culture and support it to reach even greater international success in the streaming era.”

The BPI believes that music and the creative industries offer a great opportunity for the UK if our policymakers can create an environment in which creators can thrive, and we call on the new Government’s support as follows:

  • BPI asks Government to provide certainty and a stable environment

It is essential that our strong copyright regime remains stable and is not watered down in trade deals, particularly with the USA.

  • BPI calls on Government to agree reciprocal arrangements on EU visa free travel

Musicians need to be able to work, tour and collaborate across the EU and our label members need to be able to plan campaigns for new releases.

  • BPI’s music labels need to be able to export and import physical product

We still have a vibrant CD and vinyl market, and physical product needs to be able to flow between the UK and the EU without hold ups or additional costs.

  • BPI wants to work with the Boris Johnson Government to boost UK investment in creativity

Extending the successful creative production tax credits to recorded music would boost domestic investment, bring inward investment from artists recording here and boost our studio and electronics businesses. The UK must be internationally competitive as a place to invest and record.

  • BPI will work with the Boris Johnson Government on a new, ambitious Music Export strategy to ensure the UK takes full advantage of rapid growth in developing markets.

The Music Export Growth Scheme has been very successful in supporting early stage careers and helping independent UK artists promote their music overseas. The Government should now examine what additional steps it can take to support breaking artists with the high costs of travel/visas and help them get quickly to overseas markets when data demonstrates there is the opportunity to nurture an international fanbase.

  • BPI will work with Government to turbo charge UK creative industry growth by strengthening IP enforcement

Government must ensure that online platforms agree new measures to significantly reduce piracy on their services through the Creative Industries Sector Deal. The Online Harms White Paper should lead to a future regime where rights owners, platforms, search engines and online marketplaces work closely together to reduce the economic harm caused by illegal content.

  • BPI wants Government to address inequalities in music education

BPI is deeply committed to music in state schools, helping to set up the BRIT School and East London Arts and Music (ELAM). Through the BRIT Trust, we provide funding to give young people a top class state school education in creative and technical skills. But State schools overall have seen a 21% decrease in music provision over the past 5 years, compared to a net increase of 7% in independent schools. We need the Government to reverse this trend and improve opportunities for children from all backgrounds to make music.