Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl met Uzbekistan's Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov as part of the British organization's efforts to develop international relations in the music industry, UK Music said.
The meeting took place on 11 September 2026 and was also attended by Uzbekistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom, Ravshan Usmanov.
The sides discussed cooperation between the music industries of the two countries. One topic was the minister's plans to strengthen copyright protection in Uzbekistan as part of broader reforms related to the country's application to join the World Trade Organization.
Kiehl outlined UK Music's work to support songwriters and the music business, including copyright protection, the use of soft power and new challenges associated with the development of artificial intelligence. He also proposed continuing the dialogue after the meeting.
Nazarbekov, one of Uzbekistan's popular contemporary singers, was in London to attend an event marking the 35th anniversary of the country's independence. The event featured a keynote speech by Speaker of the UK House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
As a gesture of friendship, Nazarbekov presented Kiehl with a traditional Uzbek doppi skullcap. In return, the UK Music chief gave the minister the organization's latest key reports on the state of the UK music industry.
