UK Music Welcomes Move to Set up New Fund to Help Scottish Musicians With Soaring Cost of International Touring

27.03:2026: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to adopt one of the recommendations in UK Music's Manifesto for Music: Scotland.

The move comes less than a month after UK Music unveiled a five-point plan in our manifesto to help create thousands of jobs and boost economic growth in Scotland.

The Scottish Government revealed details of a new fund to help Scottish-based musicians cover the rising costs of international touring on Thursday. Creative Scotland will get £300,000 to set up a pilot rapid-response fund to help musicians with costs such as travel, freight and visa applications.

The one-year trial scheme will be evaluated to gather data on the Scottish music industry's wider support needs.

It will support research already under way by British Council Scotland on the establishment of a dedicated export service to support Scotland's arts and culture sectors efforts to reach international audiences.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: "We're delighted the Scottish Government has followed one of our Manifesto for Music: Scotland recommendations and is establishing a touring fund to support Scotland-based musicians with the rising costs of international touring.

"This fund could have a real impact, and enable more of Scotland's fantastic talent to shine on the world stage.

"We continue to call on the UK government to address barriers to international touring within its direct control, such as costs of ATA carnets or "equipment passports" which are among the highest in the world."

Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: "International touring is vital to Scotland's music sector, enabling artists to generate income, reach new audiences, build networks across borders, and showcase Scotland's creative talent on the world stage.

"However, musicians have told us that international tours are increasingly challenging for many acts, due to ever-increasing travel costs. Brexit has also hit them hard, with musicians no longer free to move between the 27 EU member states and significant costs and paperwork now required for any equipment they want to travel with.

"Following extensive engagement with the sector, including the Scottish Music Industry Association, the Scottish Government will provide £300,000 to help mitigate this issue in the short-term, while the possibility of a dedicated cultural export service can be explored to ensure Scotland's musicians are heard by the widest-possible audience."

You can read full details of the Scottish Government announcement here.

And, read our Manifesto for Music in Scotland in full here.