News

A proposed merger involving music label Sony will be probed further after concerns about the deal were raised.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has referred Sony Music’s acquisition of AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring Rights for an in-depth investigation.

The watchdog raised concerns over the merger last week, suggesting that Sony’s increased market share could worsen deals for artists.

The escalation suggests Sony did not respond to CMA’s initial findings within the five days granted.

An independent inquiry panel will now consider whether the merger has caused “a substantial lessening of competition within any market,” the CMA says.

A recovery funding programme for Northern Irish creatives has been opened by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and the Department for Communities.

ACNI Chief Executive Roisin McDonough said the £5m Creative Individuals Recovery Programme (CIRP) is designed to help creatives continue developing important skills.

It can help pay to create new work, hire facilities or equipment, improve professional skills or attend industry events.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available, with applications closing October 6.

“CIRP funding can help our creative individuals to positively contribute, as they did before the pandemic, to the significant cultural value of Northern Ireland as a great place to work, live and invest,“ McDonough said.

A 'Town of Culture' competition could be heading to West Yorkshire as early as 2023 under the area's economic recovery plan.

The plan proposes "a creative new deal" to promote places in West Yorkshire and boost the visitor economy.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin revealed plans to create a new cultural event for the region when she was elected in May.

The former Shadow Culture Secretary penned the idea as a way of supporting the area's cultural offer.

If the contest is launched, it would be reserved for places too small to vie for the national City of Culture title.

West Yorkshire is represented by Bradford and Wakefield in the 2025 longlist for UK City of Culture 2025.

A catalogue featuring the favourite artworks of 101 Members of Parliament is now available online.

John Lilbourne, 18, curated the online exhibition after writing to all 650 MPs during lockdown, asking: "What is your favourite owned artwork?".

Dear John features his favourite responses from cross party MPs, including cabinet ministers Oliver Dowden and Priti Patel.

Works on display range from portraits of the Queen and Margaret Thatcher to art created by MPs' children. 

Dowden sent a photograph of the Queen from Twitter and Matt Hancock has a Damien Hirst portrait of the monarch.

Jacob Rees-Mogg highlighted a 15th Century statue from the studio of Italian sculptor Della Robia.

When asked why he undertook the project, Lilbourne said:

"These are people who make the decisions that govern our lives, but they feel so unreachable. By writing to them with this question I was trying to find a human connection.”

A mock trial into the UK's role in Afghanistan has "concerned" the Culture Secretary and sparked an urgent investigation.

DCMS told The Jewish Chronicle that officals have been asked to "look into" the play at Camden People's Theatre.

People’s Tribunal on Crimes of Aggression: Afghanistan Sessions features Asim Qureshi and Moazzam Begg, directors of Muslim advocacy group Cage.

The men's previous public comments on 9/11 have caused some controversy and Secretary Dowden, upon becoming aware of the production, asked for an investigation.

Cross party MPs have condemned the yet-to-be-staged play as offensive.

PACE Theatre Company will not produce a Christmas pantomime this year because it is too financially risky. 

The company's home of 30 years, Paisley Arts Centre, is experiencing delays to its £2.8m refurbishment and won't reopen in December as planned.

"Coupled with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the uncertainty about any future restrictions, we feel the risks are too great to commit to staging a production this year."

READ MORE: Danger for small pantos as sales lag by £23m

It will not pursue an online panto either. Last year's production was only possible because of an emergency grant.

"Without this additional funding, the model is not sustainable," a statement from the company said.

PACE has produced the pantomime at Paisley Arts Centre since 1988.

The loss of the panto has left "a massive hole" in its funds and it is seeking donations.

The British Government has a duty to protect Afghan artists, writers and filmmakers at risk of being silenced, an open letter to MPs says.

Organised by Good Chance Theatre and the Index on Censorship, the letter has been signed by more than 80 film and theatre luminaries including Sonia Friedman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Mark Rylance and Sir Sam Mendes.

It says political and creative dissent has thrived in Afghanistan, "in a region where free expression is not always respected".

"With the Taliban takeover of the country, this rich legacy is in imminent peril. 

"We urge the British government to cooperate with the international community to create a humanitarian corridor for those seeking safe  passage out of the country."

The letter also calls on creative industries leaders to help refugees to continue their work and safeguard Afghan culture for future generations.

The Scottish Parliament has voted to make vaccine passports mandatory at nightclubs, concerts and other large events.

The nation's model is expected to provide the blueprint for an English certification system.

Negative testing will not be accepted in lieu of a vaccine passport, prompting criticism from some Scottish politicians and health officials who say the passport alone won't prove whether people are passing the virus on, but will adversely affect businesses.

However, Scotland has removed a rule that performers within one metre of each other must wear face masks or use protective screens.

First reported in ArtsProfessional, the restriction provoked alarm among theatres and Creative Scotland.

The Scottish Government changed the rule "in response to concerns about the performing arts sector’s ability to resume work".

New guidance says the exemption will only apply when there is a partition or distance of at least one metre between performers and the audience.

"Because of the continuing risk of transmitting the virus indoors, these exemptions from wearing face coverings without one-metre distancing or partitioning should be the exception rather than the norm."