{"id":23833,"date":"2026-10-27T11:23:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T11:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/?p=23833"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:57:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:57:58","slug":"european-music-bodies-oppose-30-cut-to-agoraeu-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/european-music-bodies-oppose-30-cut-to-agoraeu-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"European Music Bodies Oppose 30% Cut to AgoraEU Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Organisations representing Europe’s music sector<\/a> have come out against a proposed 30% cut<\/strong> to the AgoraEU<\/strong> budget. They are asking Member States and the Irish Presidency to restore at least the European Commission<\/a>‘s proposed funding and to ring-fence money for music in the EU’s 2028-2034 budget.<\/p>\n

Budget figures at issue<\/h2>\n

The cut would reduce AgoraEU from the Commission’s proposed \u20ac8.6 billion<\/strong> to around \u20ac6 billion<\/strong>. The signatories say this places a disproportionate burden on culture, media and democracy, given that the overall proposed budget reduction is approximately 8%.<\/p>\n

They argue that a marginal saving in the overall EU budget would come at a significant cost to Europe’s capacity to support a competitive and diverse cultural sector, including its music ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Pressures on artists and independents<\/h2>\n

The signatories point to AI disruption<\/a>, market concentration, streaming fraud and opaque streaming models as growing pressures on artists and independent businesses. They say dedicated European support is needed to unlock the sector’s potential and to overcome barriers that national investment alone cannot address.<\/p>\n

Without it, they warn, European talent could be left undeveloped and future international successes could go unrealised.<\/p>\n

What the sector is asking for<\/h2>\n

The organisations say that preserving AgoraEU’s overall budget must be matched by a clear financial commitment to music. They call on all EU decision-makers to secure these commitments in the AgoraEU regulation, with an ambitious budget, before negotiations conclude.<\/p>\n

They are asking Member States and the Irish Presidency to:<\/p>\n