A much-anticipated highlight of the Labour Party Conference party season, the UK Music ‘Eight days a week’ event celebrating the British music industry proved a big hit at The Beatles Story in Albert Dock.
Hosted by Jo Dipple (UK Music CEO) and her team, the event hit home the message to delegates of how British music contributed £4.1bn and sustained 119,000 jobs in 2015. Jo Dipple said: “Taking UK Music to Labour Party Conference was important. I wanted to drive home a message of how successful our industry is to MPs considering policies for growth post the EU Referendum. Our industry outperforms globally, year-in, year-out. To maintain this success, we need sustained long-term investment at the grassroots end of the market. Music tuition, music in schools, music as a career, grassroots music venues, access to finance, regional policies that support emerging artists, Arts Council and Government funding for popular genres not just the classics; these are issues that require political solutions and having the support of music-loving MPs is vital.”
A host of Labour politicians, peers and conference goers joined UK Music to celebrate with the Beatles tribute band ‘The Mersey Beatles’. Michael Dugher MP for Barnsley East also sang a rendition of ‘Hey Jude’ with the band.