Responding to the Chancellor’s Spending Review today (Wednesday), UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:

“We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a £4 billion levelling up fund which we hope will be a much-needed boost for the creative sector.

“We look forward to engaging with the Government to explore how that fund can be used to ensure the music industry helps drive growth the country needs and that we all want to see.

“Music and music venues are integral to the local economies of towns and cities everywhere. We hope this fund could be used to further support the vital role they already play.

“With the right support to help the music industry get back on its feet, we are determined be at the forefront of the post-pandemic economic and cultural recovery.

“The music industry contributed £5.8 billion a year to the economy and sustained almost 200,000 jobs pre-Covid. We are keen to get our live venues back in action as swiftly as possible to spread some joy and deliver a shot in the arm for our economy.”

Mr Njoku-Goodwin also welcomed the announcement of a package of support for tourism with a new City of Culture competition.

He said: “More than 12 million music tourists spent £4.7 billion in 2019 at venues across the UK.

“A new City of Culture competition will help shine the spotlight on some of the vibrant and diverse music scenes that make our venues such a magnet for visitors from home and abroad.”