{"id":2052856,"date":"2026-07-20T13:53:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T10:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052856"},"modified":"2026-07-20T13:53:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T10:53:06","slug":"government-announce-45million-to-turn-up-music-industry-for-artists-businesses-and-children-but-what-do-andy-burnhams-government-need-to-do-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052856","title":{"rendered":"Government announce \u00a345million to \u201cturn up\u201d music industry for artists, businesses and children \u2013 but what do Andy Burnham\u2019s government need to do now?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_1.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Government announce \u00a345million to \u201cturn up\u201d music industry for artists, businesses and children \u2013 but what do Andy Burnham\u2019s government need to do now?<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>MPs and industry insiders speak out on progress being made, and urgent, vital action still needed on the ticket levy for protecting artists and venues, as well as beating the Brexit touring crisis and banning ticket touts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Andrew Trendell<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-20T14:53:06+01:00\">20th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_1-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Matty Healy of The 1975 pays tribute to the Manchester bombing victims with Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham during Parklife Festival 2017 (Photo by Matthew McNulty\/Getty Images)\" title=\"Parklife Festival 2017\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Matty Healy of The 1975 pays tribute to the Manchester bombing victims with Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham during Parklife Festival 2017  (Photo by Matthew McNulty\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The UK government has announced details of a \u00a345million investment to \u201cturn up\u201d the music industry, but attention now turns on the work that needs to be done by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his government.<\/p>\n<p>While former Mayor Of Manchester Andy Burnham officially entered Downing Street as new Labour leader and UK Prime Minister after the resignation of Keir Starmer today (Monday July 20), last week saw the government reveal their \u2018Music Plan\u2019 to bolster their growth package by \u00a315million to a total of \u00a345million. They say this will back over 40,000 artists and businesses, 2,000 projects and millions of children over three years. The hope is to destroy the glass ceiling that is seeing less people from working class backgrounds enter the world of music.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cMusic is our shared language. It brings people together, breaks down barriers and gives voice to every community. At a time when too many people feel disconnected, music has never mattered more,\u201d said Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy. \u201cAs the song says, \u2018Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.\u2019 But pop is getting posher, and that must change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTalent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. After a decade of mindless vandalism that stripped culture and creativity from too many classrooms and communities, we are putting music back at the heart of education, investing in creative careers and backing grassroots music across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nandy added: \u201cWe believe music belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few. That\u2019s how we widen opportunity, strengthen our communities and ensure the UK\u2019s incredible fans and extraordinary musical talent continues to inspire the world for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Da2p5w-OHbn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u2018Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music\u2019 aims to further boost the UK\u2019s music industry, worth around \u00a38billion to the economy. The cash includes \u00a312.5million for libraries to be transformed into music lending libraries with free studio spaces and live performance opportunities and \u00a310million for creative mentoring for young people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking to <em>NME<\/em>, the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts and for Digital Government and Data Ian Murray MP said that he hoped this investment would lead to \u201ca fundamental step change\u201d in the UK\u2019s creative sphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe UK music industry is worth \u00a38billion to the economy, we want to grow the sector, and there\u2019s not another country in the world that wouldn\u2019t give their right arm for a fraction of what we do in the UK,\u201d said Murray. \u201cWe\u2019ve given the soundtrack to the world before and we want to make sure that future generations can do the same. It\u2019s about artists, it\u2019s about the talent pipeline, it\u2019s about venues, it\u2019s about access. We know there\u2019s talent everywhere but opportunity is not, and the music plan is there to try and address some of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Asked what his message would be to those who feel that the world of music is out of their reach and only the playground of the wealthy, he replied: \u201cThis government is on your side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis music plan is about working with the industry to make sure you can get access to it and allow your talent to flourish,\u201d he shared. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to get that to 40,000 musicians and artists over the next three years.\u00a0I would say to any fledgling artists out there who have never picked up an instrument to pick one up. To all musicians out there, please use this plan and hold us to account for it. We want you to have access to the music industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The government also shared plans to cut red tape for music festivals to allow for longer licences. \u201cAll of that bureaucratic red tape stuff has really hampered things,\u201d said Murray of the lack of growth for UK festivals. \u201cYou have to go through it on an annual basis, and we want new events and festivals to have a freer licensing routine so they can have a bit of certainty about growing their business through their licensing, rather than just having one year of certainty. Having five year licensing will mean they can plan, grow and invest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to also make sure that Agent For Change for live music is there so that new developments can\u2019t come in and shut down existing music venues through noise complaints. It\u2019s about the entirety of government, local government and bureaucracy to work together for the benefit of the music industry rather than being a hindrance to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, established and beloved music venues continue to face threats from noise complaints and new developments \u2013 with London\u2019s legendary Moth Club currently at war with the council. Mr Murray MP said that a detailed national policy framework was due soon and that they\u2019d be working with Music Venue Trust to ensure that councils have all the information required to \u201cprotect and save these spaces\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3958006\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3958006\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3958006\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_2.jpg\" alt=\"Andy Burnham makes a speech at the launch of his campaign as Labour&apos;s candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo by Peter Byrne\/PA Images via Getty Images)\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3958006\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Andy Burnham makes a speech at the launch of his campaign as Labour\u2019s candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo by Peter Byrne\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>New Prime Minister Andy Burnham\u2019s love of music is well-known, with the former Mayor Of Manchester leadership bid gaining support from local legends Oasis, Courteeners, Elbow and more. He previously served as Culture Secretary from 2008-2009.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s also been very vocal in his support of grassroots music venues and in pushing for \u201curgent action\u201d on the \u00a31 ticket levy on gigs at arena level and above to pay back into the pipeline for rising artists and essential smaller gig spaces. He enters his premiership at a vital time for the sector.<\/p>\n<p>Last year saw\u00a030 grassroots venues lost forever with more than half of those remaining making no profit and over 6,000 jobs lost \u2013 posing an existential threat to the future talent pipeline of the country\u2019s world-renowned live music industry.<\/p>\n<p>The \u00a31 levy collected and distributed by the LIVE Trust has received widespread support and could provide a future-proof lifeline for grassroots talent and venues. At the start of this year, a deadline was set for June 30 for 50 per cent of all gigs at arena level and above to be voluntarily paying into the scheme before the government steps in and makes in statutory and mandatory by law. It is currently believed to be around 30 per cent with the deadline now past.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The ticket levy that could save grassroots venues and artists: what happens next?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With just 8.8 per cent of shows in 2025 signing up to the levy, Music Venue Trust CEO Davyd put the blame largely at the foot of market leader Live Nation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese companies are delivering,\u201d he said of the likes of SJM, Kilimanjaro and AEG back in January. \u201cLive Nation, you know, and the whole industry knows, you are not. If the voluntary levy fails, it will not be the fault of the companies who have already embraced it, or Music Venue Trust, or the government, or any will to do it on behalf of individuals, artists, managers, agents, audiences or anyone else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be a direct consequence of the overwhelmingly dominant force in the arena and stadium market deciding not to deliver a voluntary levy. That\u2019s your choice, Live Nation, and everyone in the industry hopes you make the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3924015\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3924015\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3924015\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NMEAR_NME-READING-2023-DECLAN-MCKENNA-LIVE-ANDY-FORD-1@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"The crowd for Declan McKenna live at Reading 2023, photo by Andy Ford\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3924015\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crowd for Declan McKenna live at Reading 2023. Credit: Andy Ford for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the time, Live Nation responded to the criticism by telling <em>NME<\/em> that they \u201csupport artists\u2019 choices on charitable donations, and has worked with numerous artists who have contributed to the voluntary levy \u2013 from Coldplay and Harry Styles to Biffy Clyro \u2013 and will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of the levy, Mr Murray MP described it as \u201chuge for the music industry\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe LIVE Trust have just put \u00a3100,000 in, there\u2019s another \u00a31million on the way, all to support grassroots music, artists and venues,\u201d he told <em>NME<\/em>. \u201cWe want to see that happening across the country so while our target was 50 per cent, I want 100 per cent of those tickets to have the \u00a31 voluntary levy on it so we can have more money going to the grassroots. We need the big artists to be supporting the very grassroots that they\u2019ve come through in order to make their careers successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the the deadline now passed, Murray would not speak on any imminent moves to make the levy statutory.\u00a0\u201cWe want this to be voluntary because it\u2019s for the industry to come together, but we have always said that if it isn\u2019t on a voluntary basis then we might look to legislate for it,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt works best when the industry comes to the conclusion that this is good for the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cI would say to the big promoters to the big artists that they have to start somewhere, and those venues and places where they started are under threat and we need to support them, we need to grow them, we need to make sure there\u2019s much more availability. Grassroots funding is all part of that, and that\u2019s why the \u00a31 voluntary levy is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: UK music industry responds to new government action preventing AI firms from using work without permission \u2013 but more needs to be done<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Chief Executive of UK Music Tom Kiehl welcomed Andy Burnham into his new role, but called on him to deliver on past commitment to the industry and its artists by seeing through policies to remove\u00a0costly and prohibitive barriers of the post-Brexit touring crisis,<br \/>\nrule out any new copyright exceptions in relation to Artificial Intelligence and deliver on the Government\u2019s manifesto pledge to ban ticket touts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe welcome Andy Burnham back in Westminster as the new Prime Minister and look forward to continuing our work championing the music industry with him,\u201d said Kiehl. \u201cAs a former Culture Secretary and big music fan, he has a deep understanding of what makes the music industry tick. He also knows the challenges facing a sector which is one of the Government\u2019s best international calling cards with the \u00a34.8billion we generate in annual exports.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3883363\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3883363\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3883363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NMEAR_NME-GLASTO-2025_Kneecap_WestHolts_AFord-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Crowds at the West Holts stage as Kneecap perform at Glastonbury 2025, photo by Andy Ford\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3883363\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crowds at the West Holts stage as Kneecap perform at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There was widespread disappointment back in May when the government shared news of only a draft bill to stamp out secondary ticketing in the King\u2019s speech. Kiehl has now argued that \u201cthe new Prime Minister must speed up long-promised legislation to crack down on ticket touts who rip off millions of music fans by reselling concert and festival tickets at exorbitant prices.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The UK ban on secondary ticketing explained by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy: \u201cTime is up for ticket touts\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mr Murray MP has assured <em>NME<\/em> that they\u2019re working hard to deliver on this policy this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe draft bill is being worked on as we speak,\u201d he told <em>NME<\/em>. \u201cWe are very keen to get this done as quickly as possible, we have the commitment\u00a0 and we can do it in this term. Everyone is working together to do it and we\u2019ve done all the consultations already. We want to get this bill through, I am personally committed to it, the secretary of state is too, and it\u2019s a great news story for fans. We need to make sure that every single penny that fans spend on tickets is going back into the industry and not into the pockets of touts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Back in March, the government and the EU pledged \u201cfull commitment\u201d to solving the Brexit touring crisis for artists. Burnham himself has previously slammed the \u201cridiculous\u201d post-Brexit rules and demanded \u201cfree exchange\u201d of artists through Europe. Kiehl agreed that the time was now to \u201ctear down the barriers of red tape and extra costs that make it so hard for UK music creators, performers and crew to tour the EU post-Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr Murray MP said that they were working hard to resolve this, but it was proving to be a slow process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very complex because it\u2019s not just about visas, it\u2019s about moving around merchandise, transportation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re making progress. It\u2019s slower than we want it to be, but with the annual EU-UK agreements and summits in place, hopefully we\u2019ll be making more progress soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: As Brexit continues to have devastating impact on UK artists, government and EU pledge \u201cfull commitment\u201d to solving touring crisis<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In his first public speech as Prime Minister today, Burnham pledged his government would be \u201ca circuit breaker for Britain\u201d introducing the \u201cbiggest changes in 40 years\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the 1980s Britain took some wrong turns,\u201d he said. \u201cPolitical power was centralised, economic power privatised, large parts of the country de-industrialised and they still haven\u2019t recovered. Many feel as though they\u2019re still in decline, and they don\u2019t have the ability to turn things around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cAnd we will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life\u2019s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 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class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Minneapolis shoegazers She\u2019s Green are playing the long game<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Finn_Wolfhard_Album-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Finn_Wolfhard_Album-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><span class=\"td-video-play-ico\"><i class=\"td-icon-video-thumb-play\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Finn Wolfhard on his first post-\u2019Stranger Things\u2019 album: \u201cThese songs are less personal and more about characters\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Matt_Damon_Anne_Hathaway_The_Odyssey-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Matt_Damon_Anne_Hathaway_The_Odyssey-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><span class=\"td-video-play-ico\"><i class=\"td-icon-video-thumb-play\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway have god-tier concert histories<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AuRa-portrait1-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AuRa-portrait1-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">How \u2018Lord Of The Rings\u2019, \u2018Minecraft\u2019 and dungeon crawler games inspired Au\/Ra\u2019s \u201chopecore\u201d alt-pop debut<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_105\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_105\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ray-king@2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ray-king@2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Tributes paid after death of influential soul singer Ray King \u2013 who inspired the ska and 2 Tone movement<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/battlefield-6-beta-dates-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/battlefield-6-beta-dates-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Top Gun\u2019 is coming to \u2018Battlefield 6\u2019 without Tom Cruise<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_1-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_1-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Government announce \u00a345million to \u201cturn up\u201d music industry for artists, businesses and children \u2013 but what do Andy Burnham\u2019s government need to do now?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Jonathan-Cain-Bruce-Springsteen-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Jonathan-Cain-Bruce-Springsteen-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Journey\u2019s Jonathan Cain says Bruce Springsteen is \u201can annoying, bitter old man\u201d who \u201cshould shut up\u201d about politics<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/rush@2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/rush@2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Rush reportedly in talks for a Las Vegas Sphere residency<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Javier-Bardem-in-Cape-Fear-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Javier-Bardem-in-Cape-Fear-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Stephen King says \u2018Cape Fear\u2019 TV series is \u201cmore fucked up than Peter O\u2019Toole on his birthday\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The UK government has announced details of a \u00a345million investment to \u201cturn up\u201d the music industry, but attention now turns on the work that needs to be done by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his government.<\/p>\n<p>While former Mayor Of Manchester Andy Burnham officially entered Downing Street as new Labour leader and UK Prime Minister after the resignation of Keir Starmer today (Monday July 20), last week saw the government reveal their \u2018Music Plan\u2019 to bolster their growth package by \u00a315million to a total of \u00a345million. They say this will back over 40,000 artists and businesses, 2,000 projects and millions of children over three years. The hope is to destroy the glass ceiling that is seeing less people from working class backgrounds enter the world of music.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cMusic is our shared language. It brings people together, breaks down barriers and gives voice to every community. At a time when too many people feel disconnected, music has never mattered more,\u201d said Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy. \u201cAs the song says, \u2018Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.\u2019 But pop is getting posher, and that must change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTalent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. After a decade of mindless vandalism that stripped culture and creativity from too many classrooms and communities, we are putting music back at the heart of education, investing in creative careers and backing grassroots music across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nandy added: \u201cWe believe music belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few. That\u2019s how we widen opportunity, strengthen our communities and ensure the UK\u2019s incredible fans and extraordinary musical talent continues to inspire the world for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Da2p5w-OHbn\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u2018Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music\u2019 aims to further boost the UK\u2019s music industry, worth around \u00a38billion to the economy. The cash includes \u00a312.5million for libraries to be transformed into music lending libraries with free studio spaces and live performance opportunities and \u00a310million for creative mentoring for young people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking to <em>NME<\/em>, the Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts and for Digital Government and Data Ian Murray MP said that he hoped this investment would lead to \u201ca fundamental step change\u201d in the UK\u2019s creative sphere.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe UK music industry is worth \u00a38billion to the economy, we want to grow the sector, and there\u2019s not another country in the world that wouldn\u2019t give their right arm for a fraction of what we do in the UK,\u201d said Murray. \u201cWe\u2019ve given the soundtrack to the world before and we want to make sure that future generations can do the same. It\u2019s about artists, it\u2019s about the talent pipeline, it\u2019s about venues, it\u2019s about access. We know there\u2019s talent everywhere but opportunity is not, and the music plan is there to try and address some of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Asked what his message would be to those who feel that the world of music is out of their reach and only the playground of the wealthy, he replied: \u201cThis government is on your side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis music plan is about working with the industry to make sure you can get access to it and allow your talent to flourish,\u201d he shared. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to get that to 40,000 musicians and artists over the next three years.\u00a0I would say to any fledgling artists out there who have never picked up an instrument to pick one up. To all musicians out there, please use this plan and hold us to account for it. We want you to have access to the music industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The government also shared plans to cut red tape for music festivals to allow for longer licences. \u201cAll of that bureaucratic red tape stuff has really hampered things,\u201d said Murray of the lack of growth for UK festivals. \u201cYou have to go through it on an annual basis, and we want new events and festivals to have a freer licensing routine so they can have a bit of certainty about growing their business through their licensing, rather than just having one year of certainty. Having five year licensing will mean they can plan, grow and invest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to also make sure that Agent For Change for live music is there so that new developments can\u2019t come in and shut down existing music venues through noise complaints. It\u2019s about the entirety of government, local government and bureaucracy to work together for the benefit of the music industry rather than being a hindrance to it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, established and beloved music venues continue to face threats from noise complaints and new developments \u2013 with London\u2019s legendary Moth Club currently at war with the council. Mr Murray MP said that a detailed national policy framework was due soon and that they\u2019d be working with Music Venue Trust to ensure that councils have all the information required to \u201cprotect and save these spaces\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3958006\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3958006\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3958006\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_2.jpg\" alt=\"Andy Burnham makes a speech at the launch of his campaign as Labour&apos;s candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo by Peter Byrne\/PA Images via Getty Images)\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3958006\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Andy Burnham makes a speech at the launch of his campaign as Labour\u2019s candidate for the Makerfield by-election (Photo by Peter Byrne\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>New Prime Minister Andy Burnham\u2019s love of music is well-known, with the former Mayor Of Manchester leadership bid gaining support from local legends Oasis, Courteeners, Elbow and more. He previously served as Culture Secretary from 2008-2009.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s also been very vocal in his support of grassroots music venues and in pushing for \u201curgent action\u201d on the \u00a31 ticket levy on gigs at arena level and above to pay back into the pipeline for rising artists and essential smaller gig spaces. He enters his premiership at a vital time for the sector.<\/p>\n<p>Last year saw\u00a030 grassroots venues lost forever with more than half of those remaining making no profit and over 6,000 jobs lost \u2013 posing an existential threat to the future talent pipeline of the country\u2019s world-renowned live music industry.<\/p>\n<p>The \u00a31 levy collected and distributed by the LIVE Trust has received widespread support and could provide a future-proof lifeline for grassroots talent and venues. At the start of this year, a deadline was set for June 30 for 50 per cent of all gigs at arena level and above to be voluntarily paying into the scheme before the government steps in and makes in statutory and mandatory by law. It is currently believed to be around 30 per cent with the deadline now past.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The ticket levy that could save grassroots venues and artists: what happens next?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With just 8.8 per cent of shows in 2025 signing up to the levy, Music Venue Trust CEO Davyd put the blame largely at the foot of market leader Live Nation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese companies are delivering,\u201d he said of the likes of SJM, Kilimanjaro and AEG back in January. \u201cLive Nation, you know, and the whole industry knows, you are not. If the voluntary levy fails, it will not be the fault of the companies who have already embraced it, or Music Venue Trust, or the government, or any will to do it on behalf of individuals, artists, managers, agents, audiences or anyone else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be a direct consequence of the overwhelmingly dominant force in the arena and stadium market deciding not to deliver a voluntary levy. That\u2019s your choice, Live Nation, and everyone in the industry hopes you make the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3924015\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3924015\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3924015\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NMEAR_NME-READING-2023-DECLAN-MCKENNA-LIVE-ANDY-FORD-1@2000x1270.jpg\" alt=\"The crowd for Declan McKenna live at Reading 2023, photo by Andy Ford\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3924015\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crowd for Declan McKenna live at Reading 2023. Credit: Andy Ford for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the time, Live Nation responded to the criticism by telling <em>NME<\/em> that they \u201csupport artists\u2019 choices on charitable donations, and has worked with numerous artists who have contributed to the voluntary levy \u2013 from Coldplay and Harry Styles to Biffy Clyro \u2013 and will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of the levy, Mr Murray MP described it as \u201chuge for the music industry\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe LIVE Trust have just put \u00a3100,000 in, there\u2019s another \u00a31million on the way, all to support grassroots music, artists and venues,\u201d he told <em>NME<\/em>. \u201cWe want to see that happening across the country so while our target was 50 per cent, I want 100 per cent of those tickets to have the \u00a31 voluntary levy on it so we can have more money going to the grassroots. We need the big artists to be supporting the very grassroots that they\u2019ve come through in order to make their careers successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the the deadline now passed, Murray would not speak on any imminent moves to make the levy statutory.\u00a0\u201cWe want this to be voluntary because it\u2019s for the industry to come together, but we have always said that if it isn\u2019t on a voluntary basis then we might look to legislate for it,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt works best when the industry comes to the conclusion that this is good for the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cI would say to the big promoters to the big artists that they have to start somewhere, and those venues and places where they started are under threat and we need to support them, we need to grow them, we need to make sure there\u2019s much more availability. Grassroots funding is all part of that, and that\u2019s why the \u00a31 voluntary levy is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: UK music industry responds to new government action preventing AI firms from using work without permission \u2013 but more needs to be done<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Chief Executive of UK Music Tom Kiehl welcomed Andy Burnham into his new role, but called on him to deliver on past commitment to the industry and its artists by seeing through policies to remove\u00a0costly and prohibitive barriers of the post-Brexit touring crisis,<br \/>\nrule out any new copyright exceptions in relation to Artificial Intelligence and deliver on the Government\u2019s manifesto pledge to ban ticket touts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe welcome Andy Burnham back in Westminster as the new Prime Minister and look forward to continuing our work championing the music industry with him,\u201d said Kiehl. \u201cAs a former Culture Secretary and big music fan, he has a deep understanding of what makes the music industry tick. He also knows the challenges facing a sector which is one of the Government\u2019s best international calling cards with the \u00a34.8billion we generate in annual exports.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3883363\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3883363\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3883363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NMEAR_NME-GLASTO-2025_Kneecap_WestHolts_AFord-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Crowds at the West Holts stage as Kneecap perform at Glastonbury 2025, photo by Andy Ford\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3883363\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crowds at the West Holts stage as Kneecap perform at Glastonbury 2025. Credit: Andy Ford for NME<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There was widespread disappointment back in May when the government shared news of only a draft bill to stamp out secondary ticketing in the King\u2019s speech. Kiehl has now argued that \u201cthe new Prime Minister must speed up long-promised legislation to crack down on ticket touts who rip off millions of music fans by reselling concert and festival tickets at exorbitant prices.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: The UK ban on secondary ticketing explained by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy: \u201cTime is up for ticket touts\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mr Murray MP has assured <em>NME<\/em> that they\u2019re working hard to deliver on this policy this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe draft bill is being worked on as we speak,\u201d he told <em>NME<\/em>. \u201cWe are very keen to get this done as quickly as possible, we have the commitment\u00a0 and we can do it in this term. Everyone is working together to do it and we\u2019ve done all the consultations already. We want to get this bill through, I am personally committed to it, the secretary of state is too, and it\u2019s a great news story for fans. We need to make sure that every single penny that fans spend on tickets is going back into the industry and not into the pockets of touts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Back in March, the government and the EU pledged \u201cfull commitment\u201d to solving the Brexit touring crisis for artists. Burnham himself has previously slammed the \u201cridiculous\u201d post-Brexit rules and demanded \u201cfree exchange\u201d of artists through Europe. Kiehl agreed that the time was now to \u201ctear down the barriers of red tape and extra costs that make it so hard for UK music creators, performers and crew to tour the EU post-Brexit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr Murray MP said that they were working hard to resolve this, but it was proving to be a slow process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very complex because it\u2019s not just about visas, it\u2019s about moving around merchandise, transportation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re making progress. It\u2019s slower than we want it to be, but with the annual EU-UK agreements and summits in place, hopefully we\u2019ll be making more progress soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: As Brexit continues to have devastating impact on UK artists, government and EU pledge \u201cfull commitment\u201d to solving touring crisis<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In his first public speech as Prime Minister today, Burnham pledged his government would be \u201ca circuit breaker for Britain\u201d introducing the \u201cbiggest changes in 40 years\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the 1980s Britain took some wrong turns,\u201d he said. \u201cPolitical power was centralised, economic power privatised, large parts of the country de-industrialised and they still haven\u2019t recovered. Many feel as though they\u2019re still in decline, and they don\u2019t have the ability to turn things around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cAnd we will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life\u2019s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/uk-government-music-plan-investment-what-next-andy-burnham-venues-artists-brexit-touts-levy-3957999&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/andy_burnham_music_1.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Government announce \u00a345million to \u201cturn up\u201d music industry for artists, businesses and children \u2013 but what do Andy Burnham\u2019s government need to do now? MPs and industry insiders speak out on progress being made, and urgent, vital action still needed on the ticket levy for protecting artists and venues, as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2052856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2052856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2052856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2052856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2052856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}