Scottish Music Industry Association

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Scottish Music Industry Association

We exist to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s Music Industry. Creative Scotland distribute funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry. Our mission is to…

– Create and nurture a diverse, accessible and inclusive membership community that reflects the full spectrum of Scotland’s music industry
– Ensure that Scotland’s music industry has an effective voice within government, parliament and development organisations that facilitates understanding and awareness of key opportunities and challenges
– Produce and support projects and programmes to stimulate sustainability, domestic and international growth, development and innovation

In order to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage: economically, socially and culturally. The SMIA receives Regular Funding from Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits.

06/10/2026

Introducing the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap 2026–30.

Today, we’re publishing a shared direction for a stronger, fairer and more sustainable Scottish music industry.

The Roadmap brings together two years of development, shaped by the experiences, evidence and perspectives of people working across Scotland’s music industry.

It has been informed by our work and ongoing engagement with SMIA members, evidence gathered through structured discussions at the SMIA Summit in 2024 and 2025, stakeholder feedback on the draft framework and national priorities, alongside wider research, official statistics, policy information and sector studies.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, experience and perspective to help shape this work.

From this, the Roadmap sets out eight connected national priorities for Scotland’s music industry:

1. Strengthen Scotland’s Music Industry Infrastructure

2. Increase Strategic Investment and Financial Resilience

3. Develop Scotland’s Music Workforce and Sustainable Careers

4. Strengthen Local and Grassroots Music Ecosystems

5. Grow Resilient and Innovative Music Businesses

6. Increase International Connectivity

7. Grow Audiences, Participation and Demand for Scottish Music

8. Position Music as a National Asset

Together, these priorities provide a shared framework for people, businesses, organisations and public bodies to strengthen existing activity, address gaps and work together on the changes Scotland’s music industry needs.

Read the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap 2026–30 in full via - https://www.smia.org.uk/roadmap/

05/10/2026

Taking a closer look at the Training Centre programme for The SMIA Summit 2026!

Alongside the conversations taking place in our Conference Centre, the Training Centre is focused on practical learning, with workshops designed to give you skills, tools and resources you can use in your own work.

Across the day, sessions will explore:

→ Foundational Principles That All Music Organisations Should Have
→ Financial Resilience: Building Sustainable Music Organisations
→ Measuring and Co mmunicating Your Impact

Dip in and out throughout the day, choosing the workshops most relevant to you, or move between the Training Centre and Conference Centre to build your own SMIA Summit programme.

Swipe through to explore each workshop, what you’ll cover and what you’ll take away.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026
📍 The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow
⏰ 9:30am–5:30pm

Final few spaces available, register via - https://www.smia.org.uk/smia-summit-2026/

02/10/2026

Breaking down the Conference Centre programme for The SMIA Summit 2026!

Following the publication of the (Scottish Music Industry Roadmap 2026–30), we’re bringing Scotland’s music industry together to explore some of the biggest questions facing our sector and focus on what needs to happen next.

Across the day, keynotes, panel discussions and audience Q&As will explore:

→ From Discovery to Demand: Building Audiences for Scottish Music

→ Beyond Codes of Conduct: Safety, Power and Accountability in Scotland’s Music Industry

→ When a Region’s a Nation: Scotland in a UK-wide Music Industry

Swipe through to explore the sessions, speakers and conversations shaping this year.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026

📍 The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

⏰ 9:30am–5:30pm

Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Register now via - https://bit.ly/4z33OEG

30/09/2026

The SMIA Summit 2026 is almost here, and we’re pleased to share the speakers joining us at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow on Thursday 8 October.

Taking place following the publication of the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap (2026–30), this year’s SMIA Summit will bring Scotland’s music industry together to explore its shared priorities and turn them into action through national conversations and practical training.

Joining us:

Alan Morrison – Creative Scotland
Ben Jeffries – The Audience Agency (ex)
Ben Schogler – National Centre for Music
Briana Pegado – Good Trouble Co / Black Filmmakers Community Network
Brian Ó hEadhra – Traditional Music Forum of Scotland / North Atlantic Song Convention
Fiona Dalgetty – Fèis Rois
Jamie Laughland – Sopher + Co / It’sNotRadio
Jen Anderson – The Bothy Society / pointblank music school
Jen Smith – Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA)
Jubemi Iyiku – BEMZ / M4
Judith Eele – Community Enterprise
Lisa Whytock – Showcase Scotland Expo / Active Events
Mobo Agoro – PITCH Scotland / up2stndrd
Olga FitzRoy – UK Music
Peta Murphy – Coventry University Group
Robert Kilpatrick – Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA)
Scott Kirkwood – Kingdom Management
Scott Lewis – EMI North
Sheri Friers – The List

The SMIA Summit 2026 is free for SMIA members. You can join the SMIA for free via our website.

Final remaining tickets via - https://www.smia.org.uk/smia-summit-2026/

Places are available on a first come, first served basis.

The SMIA Summit 2026 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Glasgow Life, Glasgow UNESCO City of Music and UK Music.

24/09/2026

Got questions about The SMIA Summit 2026? We’ve got you covered.

Swipe through for everything you need to know ahead of the day, including what’s happening, who it’s for, accessibility, our dedicated co-working space and how the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap (2026–30) fits in to it all.

📍 The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026

🕘 9.30am–5:30pm

Free for SMIA members. Spaces are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Register via - https://bit.ly/4h7ozYk

22/09/2026

New research from Creative Balance, a research and advocacy project run by We Are Here Scotland, examines the experiences and wellbeing of racialised people working across Scotland’s creative industries.

‘Finding The Radiance In Between: Reimagining Scotland’s Creative Spaces’ identifies recurring experiences of financial precarity and isolation, alongside concerns about the lack of racial diversity in leadership across the sector.

Read more about the research and access the full report via - https://bit.ly/4hfPAc9

17/09/2026

We’re offering a limited number of free bursary accreditations for SMIA members to attend Resonate 2026, taking place on Thursday 19 November in Glasgow.

Resonate brings Scotland’s music industry together for a full day of networking, panels, workshops and live music, providing opportunities to connect, learn and discover emerging artists.

We particularly encourage applications from those who haven’t attended Resonate before due to barriers to access, geographical distance, or time away from work due to illness, caring responsibilities or similar circumstances.

Applications are open to SMIA members aged 18+ who are based in Scotland and not in full-time education.

Deadline: Thursday 16 October 2026

Find out more and apply via - https://bit.ly/3T9RIu8

14/09/2026

The SMIA Summit 2026 returns next month, bringing Scotland’s music industry together at The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow on Thursday 8 October.

This year, the SMIA Summit 2026 will follow the publication of the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap 2026–30, a new shared framework shaped by sector consultation and insights gathered through previous SMIA Summits. It will be the first major national conversation following its publication, looking at what the Roadmap’s priorities mean in practice and what needs to happen next.

Our event is shaped across two strands; the Conference Centre will feature keynotes and panel discussions, while the Training Centre will offer practical sessions with skills, tools and resources attendees can use in their own work.

Organisations are also encouraged to bring their teams and make the most of the different sessions taking place across the day.

The SMIA Summit 2026 is free for SMIA members. You can join the SMIA (for free!) via our website.

Places are available on a first come, first served basis.

Register now - https://bit.ly/4h7ozYk

The SMIA Summit 2026 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Glasgow Life, Glasgow UNESCO City of Music and UK Music.

10/09/2026

We are devastated by the news that The Skinny is closing after more than two decades championing Scotland’s music, arts and culture.
Our thoughts are with its staff, freelancers and contributors at an exceptionally difficult time.

The Skinny has been far more than a publication. It has been an essential part of Scotland’s cultural infrastructure – platforming emerging artists, helping audiences discover new music and experiences, creating opportunities for writers and photographers, supporting venues and festivals and documenting Scotland’s ever-evolving cultural identity.

Its closure represents a significant loss for our sector and another stark reminder of the fragility of Scotland’s cultural ecosystem.

Our SMIA CEO and Creative Director Robert Kilpatrick reflects on what the loss of The Skinny means for Scotland’s music industry, the structural challenges facing our cultural sector and the invaluable legacy its team leaves behind.

Read our full statement - https://bit.ly/4ihRQlv

03/09/2026

The UK Government’s £45 million Music Growth Package includes new and expanded funding for artists, music creators, businesses and organisations – but eligibility for Scotland-based applicants differs depending on the activity being supported.

We have sought clarification directly from Arts Council England to help Scotland’s music industry understand and make full use of the opportunities available.

At a glance:

* Experienced artists and music creators: The Music Creators Growth Fund will offer grants of £10,000–£20,000. It is open to artists, artist collectives, bands, composers, DJs, groups, producers and songwriters working across all genres who can demonstrate a strong track record developed over at least three years. Scotland-based creators can apply for eligible international activity outside the UK.
* Music businesses and organisations: The Music Growth Fund offers grants of £1,000–£100,000. Scotland-based applicants can apply for eligible international activity and certain domestic activity benefiting artists, audiences or music businesses in England.
* Independent music companies developing international markets: The Music Export Growth Scheme offers grants of £5,000–£50,000.
* Creators invited to international industry showcases, conferences or songwriting camps: The International Showcase Fund offers grants of up to £5,500.

Our latest article breaks down what Scotland-based applicants can apply for, key deadlines and what to consider before starting an application.

Read more via - https://bit.ly/4qWB8dM

Address

100 Candleriggs
Glasgow
G11NQ

Website

http://www.smia.org.uk/

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