A new 'Turn It Up' initiative aims to stabilize the UK festival industry with extended licensing and increased temporary event permits.
The UK government has committed an additional £15 million to the music industry. Part of the 'Turn It Up' initiative, the funding targets thousands of grassroots projects and artists, acknowledging a sector that generates £8 billion annually for the economy.
Critically for promoters, the plan introduces baseline stability for licensing. New events can secure three-year contracts, while existing festivals move to five-year terms. The annual limit for Temporary Event Notices (TENs) also increases from 15 to 20, granting venues more flexibility for late-night programming.
Infrastructure investment includes £12.5 million for music libraries, which will provide free recording and mixing spaces. The government also plans to appoint its first 'Music Champion' to act as a direct liaison between the industry and Westminster.
While trade bodies like AIM welcome the move, they maintain that more is needed to incentivize production and protect independent studios. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the UK's massive music tourism industry—valued at £11.2 billion—retains its momentum.