Music Moves Europe preparatory action (2018-2020)

The preparatory action “Music Moves Europe: Boosting European music diversity and talent” that run between 2018 and 2020 prepared the support for music under the next edition of the Creative Europe programme (2021-2027). The results have helped the European Commission designing the sectoral support for music which features as a new element under the current programme.

12 calls, over 60 projects

To implement the preparatory action the Commission published 12 calls between 2018 and 2021. The more than 60 small-scale music projects that received support covered training and professionnalisation, music distribution, music education, small venues, co-creation and sustainable recovery.

MusicAIRE: supporting the music sector through COVID-19

The last call for proposals was an innovative support scheme for a sustainable music ecosystem. This €2.5 million action, implemented through the MusicAIRE project, ran from 2021 to 2023 and aimed to support the music sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in a green, digital, just and resilient way.

The project also served to test and further develop the cascading grant approach, whereby support is channelled to third parties through intermediary organisations, enabling a wider and more targeted reach across the music ecosystem.

Learn more about MusicAIRE

Studies funded under the preparatory action

Under the Music Moves Europe Preparatory Action, the European Commission commissioned five studies to address key challenges facing the music sector, improve understanding of its needs and dynamics, and provide an evidence base for informed EU policymaking and future support measures. 

Together, the studies covered major strategic themes including music export and internationalisation, market trends and financing needs, data and knowledge infrastructure through a European Music Observatory, and the health and wellbeing of music professionals, reflecting the need for a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable European music ecosystem.