British music isn’t just popular, the UK public just ranked it No. 1 as the cultural export they are most proud of 🇬🇧 New research in BPI’s annual stats book ‘All About The Music 2026’ shows: 🥇27% of the public rank music as the UK’s top cultural export 🌍 Nearly 75% say it boosts the UK’s global reputation 🤝 Over two-thirds want more Government support for homegrown artists BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE: “It’s encouraging to see that the public holds British music in such high regard and is so committed to seeing its continued success. The UK is a creative superpower both economically and culturally, as can be seen across our many world-leading creative industries. Music speaks to the human experience in a unique and powerful way and is there for us at every moment in our lives. As we’ve seen over the last year with numerous new artists breaking through on the world stage, British music has a truly global impact - its importance and power as a cultural asset and economic force cannot be overstated.” You can now dive into the full report for the data, trends and artist stories shaping the future of UK music in ‘All About The Music 2026’ 📊 Free for all BPI Members here: bpi.co.uk/page/bpi-aatm-2026 Available for the public to buy here: bpi.co.uk/page/shop

BPI and @CityPolicePIPCU just secured a 3 year 6 month sentence following the UK’s largest seizure of counterfeit vinyl records 👏 The perpetrator generated £2.7 million from the sale of counterfeit vinyl between 2017 and 2024, operating an industrial scale unlicensed manufacturing plant in Acton under the name Phoenix of Vinyl. The operation was uncovered following a referral from the BPI to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at the @CityPolice. Officers seized 2,791 counterfeit records, four vinyl presses, 3,000 metal stampers and thousands of sleeves and centre labels, with 18 tonnes of evidence recovered in total. Record labels confirmed that the seized titles infringed copyright, with the operation using the copyright of 108 artists. The conviction marks a significant step in tackling the growing threat of counterfeit vinyl and protecting artists, rights holders and the legitimate music industry. Read the full story in @guardian, including comment from BPI Director of Content Protection, Peter Ratcliffe. theguardian.com/music/2026/s…

Australia is now the UK's 4th-largest music export market. UK recorded music exports hit a record £800m in 2025. Our team @auBritish recently helped bring a UK music trade mission to Queensland, led with @biztradegovuk and @bpi_music, culminating in a British showcase at BIGSOUND, #Australia's leading music industry event. At Breakfast with the Brits, UK label execs, publishers and creative agency leads met their Australian counterparts. Later, a panel with Anthony Lee, Daniel Lee, Arwen Hunt and Chloe Melick shared straight-talking advice on building UK relationships. Practical, relationship-first work like this is part of the UK's Industrial Strategy, and it makes a real difference for artists on both sides. 📸 Anna Hay

What happens when AI stops just making music, and starts changing how music rights work? The new series of the BPI Innovation Podcast is here! 🎙️ We’re kicking things off with 'Beyond the Headlines: The Story of AI and Music in 2026’ 👀 In this episode, Sophie Jones, outgoing CSO of BPI (British Phonographic Industry), and Will Hughes, CRO of @TheSoundPatrol, explore what’s really happening beneath the noise around AI and music, from licensing and attribution to provenance, rights management and the future of AI-powered creativity. Watch on YouTube here 👉 piped.video/watch?v=NGB40NnT… Listen wherever you get your podcasts here 👉 pod.link/1762376083

A brand new college to nurture the next generations of British talent 🇬🇧 Plans for a new specialist creative college in the heart of Bradford have been submitted. BRIT North will offer free, specialist education for up to 500 students aged 16–19, with courses spanning music and music technology, performing arts, production arts, creative media and digital design. Inspired by the music industry’s long history in supporting creative education, BRIT North will give young people across Bradford and West Yorkshire the opportunity to develop skills and pursue careers in the creative industries. Subject to planning approval, the college will be located at Jacob’s Well in Bradford city centre. More details will be shared as the project develops. Architectural visual: DPP, Bond Bryan Architects and Ares Landscape Architects Ltd More info here: bpi.co.uk/news/13432859

British music is going global 🌍 Here are your recipients of Round 25 of the Music Export Growth Scheme! 163 Margs, Alex Spencer, BINA., Boston Manor, Bury Tomorrow, caroline, CHINCHILLA, Elder Island, Fat Dog, Grandmas House, Ibibio Sound Machine, JERUB, Joshua Idehen, Koven, LIME GARDEN, Lizzie Berchie, Los Bitchos, Mary In The Junkyard, Pigeon, Qendresa, Rhumba Club, Seb Lowe, The Guest List, The K’s, The Lathums, The Lottery Winners, The Meffs, The Royston Club, Tom Skinner The latest £800,000 round of the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) is being distributed between 29 UK artists to help build their international audiences and careers 🇬🇧 Developed and administered by the BPI, and funded by @SciTechgovuk, @DCMS and the UK recorded music industry, MEGS has supported 540+ British artists, invested £10m+ in UK music, and generated more than £81.5m for the UK economy, demonstrating the power of investing in independent talent and helping British music reach audiences around the world. Applications for the 26th round are now open until 7 September! Find out more and apply here: bpi.co.uk/news/13379472

New models of collaboration between AI companies and the music sector, like the example below, are key to seizing on the opportunities of AI whilst preserving and respecting human creativity 🤝 BPI's commisioned report from WPI Economics made the case for the role of licensing and partnership to drive growth, read more here: bpi.co.uk/news/13235214

Congratulations to @pinkpantheress2, Olivia Dean, @Harry_Styles and the other UK artists and their teams who have been nominated for this year's @vmas!

If you’re a music business looking for support with international touring, applications are now open for the 26th round of the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) ✈️ Supporting UK independent music businesses as they grow their artists’ global reach, MEGS has already backed 500+ artists and helped drive millions in export growth for British music worldwide 🌍 A vital partnership between industry and the UK Government, the scheme continues to strengthen the UK’s position on the global stage, with applications open now until 7th September. More info on how to apply here: bpi.co.uk/news/13379472

IFPI has today announced the roll out of Global Principles for the Eligibility of Recordings Developed Using AI in Official Music Charts Worldwide. When will a track created using AI qualify for the charts? Find out more: ifpi.org/ifpi-rolls-out-glob…

Introducing the 2026 Mercury Prize Albums of the Year! ✨ · @santandave1 – 'The Boy Who Played the Harp' · Dove Ellis – 'Blizzard' · @florencemachine – 'Everybody Scream' · @jadethirlwall – 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY!' · @knatsncl – 'A Great Day In Newcastle' · @KojeyRadical – 'Don't Look Down' · @archives_nia – 'Emotional Junglist' · Olivia Dean – 'The Art of Loving' · @PaulMcCartney – 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane' · @raye – 'THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.' · @suedehq – 'Antidepressants' · Various Artists, War Child – 'HELP(2)' #MercuryPrize

Introducing your judges for the 2026 @MercuryPrize, who have chosen this year’s shortlisted albums, revealed this Thursday from 10:30am live on @BBC6Music 📻 AFRODEUTSCHE - Composer, DJ & Radio 3 Unwind & 6 Music Broadcaster Danielle Perry - Broadcaster (Absolute Radio & Jazz FM) & Musician Jamie Cullum - Musician & Radio 2 Broadcaster; Jeff Smith - Head of Music, Radio 2 & 6 Music Lea Stonhill – Music Programming Consultant; MistaJam – Songwriter, DJ & Broadcaster MistaJam – Songwriter, DJ & Broadcaster Phil Alexander – Creative Director, Kerrang!/Contributing Editor, MOJO Sian Eleri – Radio 1 Broadcaster & DJ Sophie Williams – Music Writer & Broadcaster Will Hodgkinson - Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times Jeff Smith - The Chair of the judging team #MercuryPrize

Wait for the last one 😂 A couple of very hot takes here... In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the @officialcharts Albums Chart, we discovered the very eclectic album tastes of BPI employees! Tell us your favourite album of all time below 👇

“The BPI extends its good wishes to @andyburnham as he becomes Prime Minister. Over many years the BPI has known Andy as an ardent champion of music and a passionate fan of artistic talent – both as Culture Secretary and latterly in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester. More recently we have worked closely with him and his team to bring The BRIT Awards Limited to Manchester, and we have also engaged with him in our capacity as founding partners of Beyond The Music that he has driven to success. With the Government’s Turn It Up Music Plan just published, the Prime Minister will be profoundly aware of the commercial and cultural value of our industry at home and globally – the world’s third largest – and the unique power that music has to inspire people, bring communities together, and deliver economic growth. Our members look forward to working with him and the Government to support this.” - BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE

We are profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Alexi Cory-Smith.  She made a highly-valued contribution as a leading figure in our music industry, including as BPI Council member when representing BMG, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues on their great loss. ift.tt/OpVgISQ

BPI is celebrating #BritishIPDay2026 by continuing to champion the UK's world-leading IP framework. Today also marks the launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for IP's new report on IP enforcement and illicit trade. The report follows an inquiry to which BPI's Director of Content Protection, Peter Ratcliffe, gave evidence on the challenges facing the music sector and how policymakers can help address them.

A cross-label alliance is bringing the UK music industry together to champion LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion and community 🏳️‍🌈 SHADES unites the UK LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups from @SonyMusicUK, @warnermusic and @UMusicuk, with a shared ambition to create lasting change across the industry - and it's now inviting independent labels and publishers to get involved! From celebrating queer stories through its first cross-industry exhibition to building a stronger, more connected community, SHADES’ work forms part of a broader shift towards cross-industry solidarity across different diversity dimensions. Read how the alliance came together, what it stands for, and what's next here: bpi.co.uk/news/13310851

Congratulations Arit Eminue MBE, one of the founding members of the BPI's Equity and Justice Advisory Group (EJAG), on her appointment as the new Chair of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce 👏