Welsh government urged to invest in ‘vital’ music institutions

Revitalising the “cultural strength” of Wales’ music scene requires “smart public investments” in the nation’s most famous institutions, UK Music has declared.

The advocacy body’s Manifesto for Music Wales has called for targeted financial support and the creation of a “long-term strategic plan” for nationally important organisations.

Those referenced within the plan of action include Welsh National Opera, which has in recent years weathered cuts to its subsidies by Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, both of which face what report authors call “severe financial pressures”.

Despite an 8.5% increase in Welsh arts and culture funding announced as part of the 2025/26 budget, the nation still “lags behind”, the manifesto warns.

In addition to supporting existing institutions, UK Music is calling for the creation of funding programme that incentivises the business of Welsh music production, expanded access to music education, and clearer guardrails regarding artificial intelligence.

Visitor levies and free music tuition

Released ahead of Welsh Senedd elections on 7 May, the UK Music manifesto names five recommendations for strengthening and growing the Welsh music industry.

UK Music suggests adopting the proposals could “increase the 834,000 ‘music tourists’ who visited Wales in 2024; build on the 3,650 jobs supported by music in Wales in 2024; and add to the £384 million music contributed to the Welsh economy in 2024”.

Alongside public investment, the plan urges policymakers to “bring down barriers” facing those who wish to export Welsh music.

This includes placing additional pressure on the UK government to “fix” touring opportunities within the European Union post-Brexit.

Ensuring music opportunities are available to all children and young people forms another key recommendation, with one suggestion being that leaders work to remove fees for instrumental music tuition, while UK Music also wants to see AI policy that “supports homegrown creativity”.

Finally, the manifesto encourages leaders to understand music as a tourism driver.

From April 2027, local authorities in Wales will have the option of introducing a visitor levy of £1.25 per night for those staying in hotels and Airbnbs; an opportunity the manifesto says could transform revenue into direct support for the music industry.

‘Practical solutions to big challenges’

UK Music chief executive Tom Kiehl said: “Wales boasts a proud and rich musical heritage that has produced some of the world’s most successful and best loved artists.

“This manifesto will harness the power of Wales’s incredible music sector to turbocharge economic growth, ramp up tourism to the country and make sure that everyone, no matter what their background, has access to a great music education.

“It will also produce practical solutions to the big challenges affecting the sector, from ensuring big tech firms are not allowed to steal human creations to train AI systems, to tearing down barriers to Welsh musical exports.”