ABSTRACT
In recent years the United Kingdom (UK) government has taken an increasing interest in the fate of its popular music industries. It brief overview of developments in the changing relationship between the state and popular music in the UK is provided. In terms of popular music policy the UK has moved from being a benign state to being a promotional one. The chapter concentrates on four areas: the Music Industry Forum, increasing professionalization and lobbying by the music industries, the Live Music Forum, and various sorts of ongoing support. The industries were keen to enlist political support following the NHC and MMC reports and by 1996, were clear that Labour would be in power the following year. The support of government was vital in public image battle and New Labour Ministers obliged with quotes outlining their opposition to file sharing. The chapter looks at developments under the New Labour government from 1997, before concluding with a critique of recent developments.
