Music Champion - Terms of reference
The Music Champion will act as a Champion for Turn It Up: Our plan for music and for the music sector.
Introduction
Following publication of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, DCMS has now published Turn it Up: Our Plan for Music. This Plan will act as a framework for the music sector, bringing together existing interventions into one accessible document, and providing a foundation on which to build future policy interventions, supporting our aim to make the UK the best place to create, experience and invest in music.
Building on the Plan, the Music Champion will act as a Champion for the Plan and for the music sector more broadly. The focus of the Champion will be in strengthening communication and relationships between HMG and the wider music sector across the UK. In doing so, the Champion will support the communication of the Plan to the sector; help to track and review progress in the delivery of the Plan; and support government and industry partnership to identify further actions in support of the Plan’s ambitions.
Working arrangements
The initial appointment will be for a 12 month period with the option to extend, starting on 13 July 2026, aligning with the publication of DCMS’s Plan for Music.
This is an unpaid advisory role but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in line with DCMS policies.
This role will require a maximum commitment of four days per month, averaged over the year so that it can be managed alongside other professional commitments. Any potential conflicts of interest arising from other professional commitments have been considered as part of the appointments process, and appropriate mitigations put in place - these will remain under review throughout the appointment.
The Champion will report on their work to the DCMS Deputy Director for the Creative Industries, and will meet the Minister for the Creative Industries and the Secretary of State as appropriate to outline progress.
DCMS civil servants will provide administrative support, and access to relevant research, data, and policy advice to enable effective delivery. Official information must not be shared externally without express permission of the DCMS senior sponsor. The Champion will also engage relevant industry networks and support.
The Music Champion will declare any conflicts of interest in the usual way for Direct Ministerial Appointments, and these will be considered as part of the appointment process. They will comply with any measures and mitigations set out by DCMS’s Permanent Secretary.
Roles and responsibilities
More specific roles and responsibilities will be agreed in due course with the Champion, but initially, they will work closely with DCMS civil servants, Special Advisers, and Ministers to maximise the reach of Turn it Up: Our Plan for Music.
The Music Champion will engage with the sector across the UK to assess the impact of the Music Plan, highlighting successes, and identifying areas for further policy development. They will:
- Support the communication of the Plan to the music sector
- Help to track and review progress in the delivery of the Plan
- Act as an advocate for the sector; and
- Support government and industry partnership to identify further actions in support of the Plan’s ambition