The Shift in the UK Music Industry: A New Era for Songwriters

A Game-Changer for Songwriters

There’s a quiet shift happening in the UK music industry, and it's finally changing how songwriters are paid. I know, this shouldn't even really be news, but here we are.

The Ivor's Academy, working with major UK labels and backed by the Government’s Creator Remuneration Working Group, has just introduced a new model: £75 per day in non-recoupable per diem payments for songwriters invited to label-organised sessions. It’s a big move in an industry where writers often show up, create the backbone of a song, and leave unpaid. Now, they’ll walk away with something concrete for their time.

This progress didn’t appear from nowhere. It’s been years in the making, and at the centre of it is Kenny Barber.

Who is Kenny Barber?

If you don’t already know Kenny Barber, let me do a mini intro. As Writer Relations for PRS for Music and a voice in the industry, Kenny is on the education and skills UK music committee and is a recording academy professional member. He's been pushing hard for transparency, fairness, and real tools for creators. He’s not just sitting in meetings; he’s in the DMs, on the panels, on the ground, showing artists exactly what they need to do to protect their work.

“I actually hate to say this,” he wrote on Instagram, “but I work with some of the biggest artists in the world and artists just uploading a track for the first time. And I’ll tell all of you the same thing: **Your rights. Your responsibility**.”

It doesn’t matter who’s handling your admin. If you’re not checking your registrations, your splits, your set lists, you’re probably leaving money on the table.

Making Sense of the System

Through PRS, Kenny’s been leading free masterclasses that cut through the confusion with clear, practical knowledge for anyone trying to make music their career:

• When and how to register with a PRO like PRS

• How to log your works and splits properly

• Why submitting your setlist after a show matters

• How to access mechanical royalties and what you might already be owed

• How to turn all of this into a simple, repeatable process

  
  

He’s also been directing artists to real-world funding opportunities like the PPL Momentum Fund, backed by PRS Foundation. So far, it’s invested over £50 million into more than 9,000 artists, including Little Simz, Sam Fender, and Ezra Collective. Artists can use it for recording, touring, or content, and Kenny even created a free guide to help people apply.

Immediate Impact

What makes Kenny’s work so effective is how immediate it is. His Instagram isn’t just quotes and reposts; it’s a direct pipeline to real resources. Want to apply for funding? Comment. Need help with registrations? Message him. Interested in the new per diem scheme? He’s already got a step-by-step automated reply ready to go.

And it works. Artists who’ve been overlooked for years are finally getting clarity and getting paid.

It's Personal

When the per diem announcement dropped, I immediately thought of friends—writers and artists who’ve poured themselves into this industry and haven’t always seen the return. This news felt personal. Because it is.

This industry can break your heart. I’ve spoken to artists recently who said that out loud music broke my heart. They gave it everything: the late nights, the energy, the risk. And what came back didn’t match what they put in. A million streams doesn’t mean a million pounds. Sometimes, it doesn’t even mean rent money.

That’s why Kenny’s work matters. He’s not here to hand out false hope; he’s here to help artists understand their rights and take ownership of their futures. That starts with admin, sure. But it’s really about fairness. About building an industry that actually supports the people who make the music.

And he does it all with this grounded, human energy. We’ve been meaning to work together for a while, and I’m hoping that once I move to London, we can finally make that happen.

The Future of Music

Because what he’s doing is rare. And real. And urgently needed.

My final thoughts, because I really need to go and eat something—I’ve been at my laptop all day listening to new music and felt inspired to write about this. So whether you're a new artist, an experienced writer, a manager, or just someone trying to figure it all out, this is a moment to pay attention.

The new tools are here. The support is building. You just need to know where to look. Sometimes, it’s as simple as scrolling Instagram.

When we talk about people fighting for fairness in music, Kenny Barber should be one of the first names mentioned. He understands both sides—the creative and the business—and he’s making sure you don’t have to choose between the two to survive.

This shift won’t happen overnight. But it is happening. And it’s people like Kenny who are making sure it sticks.