What Public Service Media Commissioners Look for in Music & Arts Programming Today

Music and performing arts programming sits at a crossroads for Public Service Media. Expectations remain high in terms of cultural value and editorial ambition, while budgets are under pressure, platforms are multiplying, and audience attention is increasingly fragmented. 

This panel takes a pragmatic look at how public service commissioners approach music and arts projects today: what they prioritise, how decisions are made across linear and digital platforms, and where projects succeed (or fail) to meet public service objectives. 

Bringing together key PSM commissioners and production experts, the discussion is designed as a practical exchange with the independent production community in the room. 

It will focus on how collaboration works in practice - from early development and commissioning choices to platform allocation, promotion, rights, and discoverability - with the aim of clarifying expectations and sharing concrete insights from the executive side of the industry.