European Music sector calls for rejection of AgoraEU cuts

The European music sector has issued in a joint statement that opposes the Irish Presidency's proposed 30% cut to the budget of AgoraEU from €8,6bn to €6bn.

While the proposed cuts promise only a marginal saving in the overall EU budget, they come at a disproportionately higher burden for culture, media and democracy.

Music connects communities, creates jobs and significant exports, while carrying Europe’s languages and identities across borders. Music also contributes €81.9 billion to EU GDP, supporting 2 million jobs and generating €9.7 billion in annual export revenue.

Yet artists and independent actors are increasingly under pressure, including AI disruption, market concentration, streaming fraud and opaque streaming models. Dedicated European support is vital to unlock the full potential of Europe’s music sector and overcome barriers that national investment alone cannot address.

Together, we urge Member States and the Irish Presidency to:

1. Restore at a minimum the Commission’s proposed budget and work towards Parliament’s higher ambition;
2. Secure dedicated music funding with a ring-fenced financial commitment focused on the concrete challenges of the music sector, with a budget at least at the level proposed by Parliament’s Rapporteur Emma Rafowicz;
3. Guarantee dedicated music calls across the whole value chain, that are accessible to smaller and independent actors and support the sustainability of the ecosystem.

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.

Read the full statement here!

The undersigned organisations:

AEC - Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et 

AEPO-ARTIS - Association of European Performers' Organisations

AFEM - Association for Electronic Music

Center for Music Ecosystems

ECSA - European Composer & Songwriter Alliance

EJN - Europe Jazz Network

EMEE - European Music Exporters Exchange

European Music Council

European Music Managers Alliance

European Talent Exchange 

ESNS - Eurosonic Noorderslag

Federation of Music Conferences

FIM - International Federation of Musicians

GESAC - European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers

IMPALA

IMPF - global trade and advocacy body for independent music publishers

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