European Music Council
EMC
The European Music Council (EMC), a regional group of the International Music Council (IMC), is the umbrella organisation for musical life in Europe.
ID: 907167934846-43
Lobbying Activity
25 Nov 2025
AgoraEU Earmark the envelope for the culture strand The cultural sector needs reliability and predictability. The predecessor Creative Europe is immensely oversubscribed clearly showing the need of the sector for this programme. Therefore its needs a set minimum amount in the AgoraEU regulation earmarked for the culture strand of the programme of at least 21% of the programme budget (but at least 1796 million Euro). Explicitly include music-sector funding To build on the success and visibility of the Music Moves Europe funding line in Creative Europe and the Music Moves Europe Preparatory Action, the music-sector specific funding should be continued. The music sector needs further strategic support reflecting its intrinsic value, social and democratic impact as well as its economic dimension. Include an Annex with specific funding lines that would give applicants clarity, certainty and continuity, e.g. network funding, cooperation projects, mobility funding and sector-specific support for music. Rephrase the description of networks to adequately reflect their key role for networking and exchange (Chapter II Culture Strand, Article 4 (d) to: fostering networking and exchange, peer-learning, training and awareness-raising activities and dialogue through European networks of organisations in the cultural and creative sectors from different countries. Ensure AgoraEU benefits from revenues from digital fines The current MFF allows for a share of the antitrust and competition fines to be redirected to selected programmes, including Creative Europe. It has to be ensured that fines collected under the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act and the AI Act are used to top up AgoraEU. Because creators are among the most negatively affected when cultural content or copyrighted works are used without consent or fair remuneration e.g. for training AI. Clarify the funding for Programme Desks It needs further clarification how the Programme Desks will be financed in the new AgoraEU programme. They carry out an important role in the accessibility of the programme so their role should not be weakened but rather ensured for the future. Further development of cascading grants. Cascading grants have shown that they can be a very successful tool in reaching out to a broad range of stakeholders in the music and cultural sectors especially those from micro organisations that are new to EU funding. We appreciate that the European Commission plans to continue using this type of support to the sector. To further improve on the implementation of cascading grants, we request an exchange of experience with cultural sector organisations that have managed cascading grants. Erasmus+ We appreciate the openness of Erasmus+ also to cultural sector stakeholders, it has proven to be a crucial instrument for projects of formal, non-formal and informal music education and in offering professional training, skills development and capacity building opportunities. To make full use of the potential of these projects in the programme, it would be important to provide more opportunities in the programme for the implementation of training programmes beyond curriculum development, e.g. through a dedicated programme line that ensures the testing of the developed programmes in practice.
Read full responseResponse to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for competitiveness
12 Nov 2025
The Digital Leadership objective in the Competitiveness Fund is highly relevant for the music sector. The aim is to foster innovation and competitiveness of the digital sector bringing its benefits to citizens and society, public administrations and businesses. The proposal lists a number of areas how this can be implemented such as support for the entire digital value and supply-chains, support for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, achieving leadership in digital and AI technologies and advancing digital services and applications. The proposal references the support to cultural and creative industries however it does not make full use of the opportunities for competitiveness and research funding to significantly support and tap into the potential of the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI). Given the impact of digital and AI technologies on the sector but also the importance of music and culture for these technologies, the most effective way to do this, would be to include a dedicated component on the CCSI with an earmarked budget line in the Competitiveness Fund. We also call to establish a funding line for culture and creativity including the music sector in the Competitiveness and Society pillar of Horizon Europe with a dedicated financial envelope. The sector creates high-quality jobs, stimulates innovation, and drives economic growth, with additional spillover effects for other sectors such as education, technology, and tourism. Supporting access to markets for cultural and creative sectors and industries and funding research in music and culture is not a major expenditure line; it is a strategic, low-risk investment with cross-sectoral impact. The EMC therefore suggests to: Include a dedicated component and earmarked budget for the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI) respecting the specific needs of the music sector in the Competitiveness Fund. Include a funding line for culture and creativity also addressing the specific needs of the music sector in the Competitiveness and Society pillar of Horizon Europe with a dedicated financial envelope.
Read full responseResponse to A Culture Compass for Europe
13 May 2025
Now more than ever arts and culture, cultural diversity and freedom of artistic expression are under threat. The past years have shown a risk to cultural diversity across the globe. Populist governments in Europe, the US, Russia, China and many other regions of the world use culture and cultural policies to prescribe nationalist or identitarian concepts of society. Culture and its diverse expressions are so powerful because they directly link and often manifest identities of groups and individuals, providing a sense of belonging this can be a precious source for critical thinking and democratic processes but likewise can also be used in manipulative ways to cement a one-dimensional approach to culture instead of the diversity of cultures. If Europe wants to live up to its credo of united in diversity, this diversity needs to be reflected in a strategic approach to cultural policy. Such a diversity may not only be a diversity of the different European countries, but it needs to reflect the diversity of people and their cultural expressions that are present in Europe today. Likewise, international cultural cooperation at eye-level is essential. A Culture Compass is needed and must be embraced by the other policy areas of the EU and acknowledge cultures contribution to peacebuilding and upholding democratic values. Culture and its diverse artistic expressions are at the heart of Europes competitiveness, reflecting cultural, social and economic aspects of the European Union. Values like freedom, democracy, human rights and diversity make Europe strong internally and give it credibility on a global level. We suggest approaching the Culture Compass by highlighting this threefold nature of culture, as described for music in the European Agenda for Music which states that: Music [Culture] has an intrinsic value, enriching and inspiring those who engage in it. Culture and its diverse expressions contribute immensely to Europes legacy, building a rich heritage that preserves and celebrates the diversity of our continents cultural identities, including those present from outside Europe. Music [Culture] can also serve as a tool that promotes individual development and brings change to many levels of society: it is a formidable unifier of people, a natural vehicle for social engagement and inclusion and a powerful agent for democratic values. Finally, music [culture] is involved in a variety of products that contribute to international trade, economic growth and job creation. In all of its manifestations, music [culture] is a tremendously precious resource for Europe. Therefore, it is crucial that EU policies in all areas create the conditions for the cultural sector to thrive artistically, socially and economically in the future. The music sector is an incredibly broad and diverse part of the cultural sector in various ways: in its outreach to people, in its variety of subsectors and in how they are structured. To best address the sectors strengths and challenges, the Music Moves Europe initiative has to be further elevated including a continuous dialogue between the sector and EU policy makers. A European Music Observatory is needed that covers all areas of the music sector. This would make sure that all of the IMCs 5 Music Rights will be covered addressing the priorities of the sector. The Culture Compass should cover the following policy areas: 1. Cultural Democracy & Society. 2. Artistic Freedom & Diversity. 3. Education & Access. 4. Working Conditions & Social Protection. 5. Copyright & Technologies. 6. International cultural dimension. 7. Environmental sustainability. For a more strategic policy approach that is aimed at embedding culture visibly in the EUs overarching policy goals, it needs strong funding mechanisms for culture: both in a standalone Creative Europe programme and at the same time including culture in other funding instruments for competitiveness, cohesion, regional development and external action.
Read full responseMeeting with Hélder Sousa Silva (Member of the European Parliament)
5 Feb 2025 · sustainability; Musical diversity in Times of digitization and A.I
Meeting with Iliana Ivanova (Commissioner) and
19 Dec 2023 · EU support for the cultural and creative industries
Response to A comprehensive approach to mental health
15 Feb 2023
Music and culture in general play an essential and systemic role for the health and well-being of inviduals and society overall. However, this is not widely recognised by policymakers or even the health and social sector. What is further needed: - raise awareness of the role of music, arts and culture on (mental) health - access to music (and culture) and creative participation must be easy and inclusive - international exchanges of experiences and knowledge are essential in establishing a solid basis for promoting the role of music (and culture & the arts) on mental health at national, regional, local level - encourage offers of creative participative activities to be part of the school curricula to make sure all young people are reached regardless of their background. - Support activities/organisations/projects offering free activities outside of school. - Substantial long-term funding is needed beyond pilot phases. - Support the music and cultural sector to conduct academic studies in collaboration with social and/or health professionals. - Invest in non-formal, inclusive education to build identity and community. - Encourage the inclusion of culture and creativity in the education of professionals in health, social welfare, education and other relevant fields. From Voices of Culture "Youth, Mental Health and Culture" https://voicesofculture.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/YMHC_BrainstormingReport_FINAL-1.pdf Music and other cultural activities can help overcome the stigma around mental health and can be tools for social transformation. They can also be examples and ambassadors for addressing mental health struggles and how to address them in public. Health and well-being of musicians and others working in the music sector, e.g. sound technicians: high risk for mental health problems. They suffer more mental ill health (suicide, overdoses, anxiety, depression, addiction and other psychiatric conditions) than the general population but their lifestyles make them harder to support. They can be affected by irregular working patterns, stage fright, sexual harassment, feeling drained and devalued. Touring and life on the road brings its own issues (bad eating habits, not time for exercise or self-care, sleeping badly in poor accommodation or tour bus, nighttime work). From: Musicians Union (United Kingdom) https://musiciansunion.org.uk/career-development/career-guides/musicians-wellbeing-guidance-pack/musicians-and-mental-illness-what-is-being-done-to-help Other examples on mental health and music: MusiCares by the Scottish Music Centre: The first national music project for care experienced young people in Scotland. It provides free music tuition, workshops, mentoring and advice for care experienced young people across the country. It offers any type of music tuition from DJ and sound production, to guitar, singing/songwriting, drums, keyboard, or anything else the young people want to learn. https://www.musicares.co.uk/ Especially during the COVID-19 it became evident how music helped people cope with stress during the pandemic e.g. to relieve feelings of depression or as replacement for social interaction. But also positive physical health affects are associated with music such as breathing exercises for people with long COVID: - https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/music-covid-19-stress-mental-health - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647756/full - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-singing-could-help-people-with-long-covid-breathe-easier - https://europeanchoralassociation.org/benefitsofsinging/
Read full responseMeeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner)
5 Jun 2020 · The role of the Music industry in the sustainability