SXSW London: U.K. Music Tech Sector Calls for Greater Recognition and Funding: ‘We Want to Get Something Done’

The U.K.’s music technology sector has called for greater recognition following the publication of a brand-new report at SXSW London 2026.

On Monday (June 1), the trade association MTUK (Music Technology UK) released its Sound Investment report and hosted a number of panels and keynotes at the London conference, which runs from June 1-6.

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Matt Cartmell, MTUK’s CEO, spoke to Billboard U.K. on the pressures the industry is facing and the current trend that’s seeing music technology companies struggling to fulfill their potential.

The Sound Investment report found that while music tech startups are able to attract investment in their seed phases, investments do not always follow through to the growth stage, which causes the U.K. to lag behind other markets. According to the report, investment in growth-stage companies has fallen by 90% — from £101 million ($138 million) in 2020 to £10 million ($13.7 million) in 2025.