AIM responds to King’s Speech, calls on new government to “protect the UK’s independent venues”
Association of Independent Music (AIM) has responded to today’s King’s Speech, urging the government to protect independent venues and secure a diverse future for British music.Earlier today (July 17), King Charles delivered the Labour government’s first King’s Speech in the House of Lords. The speech set out the government’s priorities for the months ahead, as well as the bills they want to pass in the next parliamentary session, following the party’s general election victory.Alongside the 39 bills outlined were plans to strengthen local economies, reform the Apprenticeship Levy, and place stronger requirements on those developing Artificial Intelligence (AI).Gee Davy, Interim CEO of the AIM, has now responded to the speech, urging the new government to “strengthen the ‘agent of change principle’ in their housing and planning goals, to protect the UK’s independent venues and the music that makes a building feel like a home.”This comes amid a period of struggle for the live music sector, with Music Venue Trust’s 2023 report revealing that venues are currently closing at a rate of around two per week.