A National Council interpellation proposes sales promotion for Swiss music modelled on agriculture

National Councillor Ueli Schmezer submitted an interpellation on 2 October 2026: the Federal Council is to say whether the Confederation could provide subsidiary co-funding for joint communication and sales promotion measures for Swiss music, as it does for agricultural products.¹

By way of comparison, the interpellation cites around CHF 66 million in federal contributions paid in 2025 to promote sales of Swiss agricultural products.¹ For music, by contrast, the text notes: 'bislang kein vergleichbares Instrument zur gemeinschaftlichen Absatz- und Kommunikationsförderung im Inland' (so far no comparable instrument for joint sales and communication promotion within Switzerland).¹ It asks about a pilot project with the music industry's organisations in which the Confederation would cover part of the costs, and whether the instrument belongs in the Culture Dispatch 2029–2032.¹

The aim is not to dictate what music people listen to, the reasoning states. The goal is to raise awareness of home-grown music; such an instrument could help strengthen 'die wirtschaftliche Grundlage eines vielfältigen professionellen Musikschaffens in der Schweiz' (the economic basis of diverse professional music-making in Switzerland).¹

Status in the parliamentary database: submitted. The Federal Council has not yet responded.¹

The number to remember: around CHF 66 million is what the Confederation paid in 2025 to promote agricultural sales.