Press release: AgoraEU - Reject the cuts. Invest in Europe’s musical future.
We, the undersigned organisations representing Europe’s music sector, oppose the proposed 30% cut to the budget of AgoraEU. We urge Member States and the Irish Presidency to restore at a minimum the Commission’s proposed budget, work towards Parliament’s higher ambition, and secure dedicated, ring-fenced funding for music in the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.
Cutting AgoraEU from the Commission’s proposed €8.6 billion to around €6 billion places a disproportionate burden on culture, media and democracy when the overall proposed budget reduction is approximately 8%. A marginal saving in the overall EU budget would come at a dramatic cost to Europe’s ambition and capacity to support a competitive and diverse cultural sector, and within that a strong European music ecosystem.
Music connects communities, creates jobs and significant exports, while carrying Europe’s languages and identities across borders. It is also a major economic asset, contributing €81.9 billion to EU GDP, supporting 2 million jobs and generating €9.7 billion in annual export revenue (Oxford Economics, 2020).
Yet issues such as AI disruption, market concentration, streaming fraud and opaque streaming models put artists and independent businesses under growing pressure. Dedicated European support is vital to unlock the full potential of Europe’s music sector and overcome barriers that national investment alone cannot address. Without it, European music risks a future with European talent left undeveloped and future international successes unrealised.
Preserving AgoraEU’s overall budget must be matched by securing a clear financial commitment to music. We call on all EU decision-makers to:
Preserving AgoraEU’s overall budget must be matched by securing a clear financial commitment to music. We call on all EU decision-makers to:
- Reject the 30% cut and at a minimum restore the Commission’s proposed €8.6 billion for AgoraEU, while working towards closer alignment with the Parliament’s proposal of €10.7 billion, ensuring sufficient resources for all its objectives.
- Secure dedicated music funding with a ring-fenced financial commitment focused on the concrete challenges of the music sector.
- Guarantee dedicated music calls across the full value chain, accessible to smaller and independent actors, supporting the sustainability of the ecosystem, including talent development, cross-border circulation and audience development.
These commitments must be secured in AgoraEU’s regulation with an ambitious budget before negotiations conclude. Recognition of music’s importance must translate into resources that artists and organisations can rely on.
Europe’s musical future will be shaped by the talent we enable to develop now. Reject the cuts and give that talent the investment it needs to succeed.
Yours sincerely,
The undersigned organisations
AEC - Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen
AEPO-ARTIS - Association of European Performers' Organisations
AFEM - Association for Electronic Music
Center for Music Ecosystems
ECSA - European Composer & Songwriter Alliance
European Center of Music
EJN - Europe Jazz Network
EMEE - European Music Exporters Exchange
European Music Council
European Music Managers Alliance
European Talent Exchange
Federation of Music Conferences
FIM - International Federation of Musicians
GESAC - European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
IAO - International Artist Organisation
IMPALA
IMPF - global trade and advocacy body for independent music publishers
Keychange
Live DMA
Liveurope
Music Cities Network
REMA - European Early Music Network
YOUROPE e.V.
CEDS.am
Austrian Music Export
mica - music austria
Posthof LInz
VIMÖ - indies.at
Ancienne Belgique
Belgian Independent Music Association
Clubcircuit
FBMU - Fédération des Bookers et Managers Uni·es (Belgium)
PlayRight CV
VI.BE
ANMIP-BG
Bulgarian music association
Club MIXTAPE 5
HUZIP
RUNDA ADRIA - Regional Association of Independent Labels
Unison - Croatia Music Alliance
We Move Music Croatia
Palác Akropolis
Danske Artist Managers (DAM)
VEGA
Estonian Performers Association (EEL)
Music Estonia
Paavli Kultuurivabrik
Faroe Music Export
LiveFIN
MMF Finland
Music Finland
Aéronef Lille
FEDELIMA - French federation of live music venues
FÉLIN – French National Federation of Independent Record Labels
UMAN
UPFI
Association of Independent Music Ireland
Golden Éire Records
Music from Ireland
ATER Fondazione / Emilia Romagna Music Commission
KeepOn LIVE
RisorgiMarche
Santeria S.p.a
IMUC
FZW Event GmbH
LiveMusikKommission e.V.
APOLLON - Greek Musicians' Royalties Collecting Society
Music from Greece AMKE
A38 Ship
LaIPA
Lithuanian Music Business Association
Rockhal - Centre de Musiques Amplifiées
BAM! (Dutch Artist & Songwriter Association)
Dutch Music Export
ESNS - Eurosonic Noorderslag
Melkweg
MMF NL
Vereniging Nederlandse Poppodia en -Festivals (VNPF) / Dutch association music venues and festivals
Izba Gospodarcza Menadżerów Artystów Polskich (IGMAP)
Klub Stodoła
Casa Capitão
Fundacja Wytwórnia
GDA, Direitos dos Artistas, CRL
Romanian Artists Worldwide Association
Thymecat Recordings
Music Serbia
Nová Cvernovka
SLOVGRAM
Glosa SKG
Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture
AIE - Sociedad de Artistas Intérpretes o Ejecutantes de España
ACCES
FORMA
Sounds from Spain
SALA APOLO
Unión Fonográfica Independiente
Debaser
MMF Sweden
SOM - Svenska Oberoende Musikproducenter
Swedish Artists' and Musicians' Interest Organisation (SAMI)
Westside Music Sweden
MÜYORBİR-Müzik Yorumcuları Meslek Birliği
Angharad Cooper Consultancy and Coaching Ltd
PRS Foundation
MMF Ukraine
BLÅ
BRENNERIVEIEN JAZZHUS AS
NEMAA
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