The five key recommendations in UK Music’s Manifesto for Music Scotland are:
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Develop a Scottish Music Growth Plan
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Bring Down Barriers to Exporting Scottish Music
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Guarantee High Quality Music Education For All
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Ensure Artificial Intelligence Policy Supports Homegrown Creativity
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Use Music to Drive Scottish Tourism
According to the manifesto, developing a Scottish Music Growth plan would include the organisation of a new Scottish Music Production fund, aiming to encourage Scottish music production. It would also include the formation of a new body to ensure that organisations work together to make the best use of public investment in music. As well as this, it entails the use of funding from Creative Scotland for training and development opportunities, as well as initiatives to grow grassroots music.
Bringing down barriers to exporting Scottish music, according to the manifesto, entails holding the UK government accountable to its commitment to address barriers preventing Scottish artists from touring the EU, working with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to reduce carnet costs, and establishing a Scottish music touring fund to provide direct support for Scottish musicians touring across the UK and internationally.
As part of recommending a guarantee of high-quality music education for all, the manifesto recommends the establishment of a music coordinator in every Scottish school, the protection and an increase in the availability of free instrumental tuition and the strengthening of collaboration between different Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programmes.
The manifesto advocates for the creation of AI policies that support homegrown creativity, and for the Scottish AI Alliance to invite representatives from the music sector and wider creative industries to advise its AI strategy. It also demands that the next Scottish government use all political and legal levers to protect Scottish Copyright.
In asking for the use of music to drive tourism, the manifesto asks that music be made a part of a renewed Scottish tourism strategy. It also asks that VisitScotland launches a music-dedicated campaign, and advocates for the encouragement of local councils to use the new visitor levy to support music.
The manifesto covers the huge diversity of Scottish music and its creators, along with the importance of its venues, studios and music businesses. It also includes case studies from Glasgow-based artist manager Hamish Fingland, who founded Bounse Management and The Touring Network (Highlands and Islands). They both give an insight into the workings of the Scottish music industry,
“Scotland has an incredible array of fantastic bands, performers, musicians, songwriters and music creators that bring in fans from across the world to its brilliant venues,” said Kiehl. “Music is at the heart of a creative industry which helps drive the economy and create jobs. However, there are major challenges when it comes to protecting Scotland’s cherished music venues, tackling the costly barriers to touring at home and abroad, facing the threat posed by AI to music creators, and ensuring we nurture the next generation of musical talent.”
Read the UK Music’s full Manifesto for Music Scotland on their website.
