The Policy Download: October 2026

MPA at Labour Party Conference

The MPA attended Labour Party Conference in September to represent UK music publishers, engaging with MPs and colleagues across the creative industries.

A key takeaway was the Government’s growing recognition of music as part of its wider agenda for economic growth, regional development and opportunities for young people.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy outlined plans to rebuild access to the creative arts, including:

• Increased arts and music provision for young people, including music studios in libraries
• Greater access to creative subjects through the education curriculum

AI and copyright featured less prominently in discussions, although Minister for Artificial Intelligence Kanishka Narayan emphasised the importance of ensuring smaller creators can secure appropriate licensing deals.

Creative Education Access Progresses

The Creative Education Access Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 11 September. Introduced by Baroness Featherstone , it aims to improve access to creative education in state-funded schools across England and Wales.

The Bill proposes at least five hours of creative education per week at Key Stages 1 and 2, and four hours at Key Stage 3. Subjects would include music, art, drama, dance, film and creative writing.

The MPA met with Baroness Featherstone to discuss the Bill and offer its support on behalf of the music industry. It will now progress to committee stage for further scrutiny.

New Bill Calls for Greater AI Transparency 

Conservative MP Damian Hinds has introduced a new Private Members Bill in Parliament that would require AI bots and web scraping tools to identify themselves and explain why they are collecting information from UK websites. 

The proposed legislation could be an important step towards greater transparency around how AI companies access and use online content. The MPA has shared a briefing with MPs ahead of the Bill’s second reading (date TBC) to highlight the importance of transparency for music publishers and other rightsholders. 

European Commission Launches AI and Copyright Consultation 

The European Commission has launched a consultation exploring whether EU copyright laws need to be updated to better protect creators and rightsholders in response to developments in AI and other technologies. 

The consultation will consider whether existing protections are sufficient and where further action may be needed. The MPA is working with the British Copyright Council (BCC) on a joint response and coordinating with the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) to ensure the interests of all music publishers are represented.  

MPA Raises Concerns Over Australian AI Licensing Proposals  

The Australian Government is considering a new statutory licensing framework for the use of copyrighted works in AI training. Unlike voluntary agreements, where deals are negotiated between rightsholders and AI companies, the proposed system could see terms and conditions set by law. AI developers would pay into a central body to access copyrighted material, which would be responsible for distributing compensation back to rightsholders. Rightsholders would be able to opt-out of the system.  

These proposals could also affect UK music publishers, as AI companies operating in one country may use copyrighted material available online in another, raising questions about which country’s copyright laws apply, whether licences are required and how rightsholders can protect their work across borders. 

The MPA has written to Australia’s Attorney General and High Commissioner in London to raise its concerns and highlight the potential implications for UK music publishers.