AGORAEU: REJECT THE CUTS. INVEST IN EUROPE’S MUSICAL FUTURE.
Brussels, 27 October 2026
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:
- 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, with a budget at least at the level proposed by Parliament’s Rapporteur Emma Rafowicz.
- 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
- 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 Keychange
- Live DMA
- Liveurope
- YOUROPE e.V.
About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary with a series of interviews Faces of the Independent Sector and other features, see more here.
