What is #VoteForMusic?
#VoteForMusic was a campaign kick-started by the hub, with support from Music Venue Trust and The Great Escape, designed to raise awareness of music industry issues during the 2015 election campaign.
From 9 April to 7 May, we asked music fans, musicians and other industry professionals – anyone who cares about music – to cast their vote for the single most important issue they want the next government (regardless of its political hue) to address.
Results of the #VoteForMusic campaign were announced at The Great Escape Festival on Friday 15 May at a session with musician Dan Le Sac, Cooking Viny's Martin Goldschmidt and Meredith Cork from Yellow Brick Music. We then ran a head-to-head debate featuring senior politicians Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture and Digital Media, and Chris Bryant, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, at our One Dayer conference on 1 July. You can watch the video of that heated panel debate here:
To read more on the issues and policy areas that topped the #VoteForMusic poll head over to our results blog. You can also watch Julia's backstage summary after The Great Escape Announcement here:
View our Social Media Wall to see how people cast their votes during the campaign.
Why #VoteForMusic?
Because in 2014, the music industry contributed £3.8bn to the UK economy, so introducing legislation that helps it flourish is a no-brainer. Doing so will benefit fans, musicians, venues and everyone making a living from, and enjoying, music…. and the UK’s economy and society at large.
#VoteForMusic has been an apolitical campaign - it’s not been about attacking or supporting any one party – rather it’s been about encouraging political engagement and reminding people that it’s good to have a voice.