MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl Meets Chancellor Rachel ...

Labour’s affiliated unions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, in Number 11 Downing Street, ahead of the budget. Image credit: © National TULO.

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl met Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week as part of a Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO) delegation of union general secretaries.

They discussed big-picture economic policy affecting workers and made the case for the importance of delivering for working people across the country.

Naomi also talked about the importance of investing in the arts and music - not just for financial reasons, but for the value that music brings to people’s lives.

UK musicians should be fairly remunerated for streaming

She talked about the redistribution of wealth within the music industry, specifically music streaming.

The UK is estimated to be the largest digital music market in Europe, and in 2023 its recorded music revenue increased by 8.1% year-on-year to £1.43 billion.

If UK-based musicians received a fairer cut of the money made from streaming their music, the money would stay in the UK economy instead of going to multinational record companies.

Live music drives economic value

Naomi also talked about how a thriving local music scene directly impacts a city’s financial health.

Venues create jobs, attract tourism, and stimulate growth in surrounding businesses like restaurants, bars, and retail stores.

The live music sector generates rich social, cultural and economic benefits, and we’re hopeful that these conversations are a starting point to repairing the grassroots live scene for everyone involved.