Home Office overturns visa refusal for Afghan Youth Orchestra

05 Mar 2024

The Afghan Youth Orchestra’s four-date tour in England will go ahead after the Home Office u-turned on a decision to reject the ensemble’s visa application following public outcry.

Orchestras urge Chancellor to extend tax relief

04 Mar 2024

The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to extend the higher rate of Orchestra Tax relief (OTR) in his upcoming budget.

The national body said the move would "help UK orchestras continue to remain ambitious, delivering new productions, creating jobs, building new audiences and delivering for local communities, in the face of continued economic pressures."

Introduced in 2016, OTR offers companies producing live orchestral performances or commissioning new musical work tax relief against creative and production costs. Previously 25%, it was temporarily raised to 50% in October 2021 and will drop to 35% next year and 25% in 2026.

ABO made the comments in response to  Birmingham City Council's plans to remove all financial support for its regularly funded arts organisations as part of a strict budget designed to save £300m over the next two years.

Under the proposals City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will see its £630,000 yearly grant reduced by 50% this year before being completely removed in 2025/26.

ABO said it had "deep concern" over the planned cuts and asked the Chancellor to commit to ensuring that "all local councils have sufficient funding to set balanced budgets for 2024/25 and develop sustainable medium-term financial strategies".

Growing number of UK music festivals announce cancellations

28 Feb 2024

The Association of Independent Festivals urges government action after at least 10 UK music festivals say they will not go ahead as planned this year due to rising costs. 

Researchers investigate benefits of singing

28 Feb 2024

A Bristol music venue is teaming up with researchers at the city's University of the West of England to explore links between singing and wellbeing.

The project, called Sing for Happiness is being described as the first large-scale research initiative of its kind and is seeking up to 500 local participants to take part.

Sing for Happiness will consist of a series of in-person sessions at St George’s music venue across spring 2024, with a final performance at Bristol Beacon on Saturday 22 June. 

It's hoped the research project’s results will provide data on how singing can be used in health and wellbeing contexts such as social prescribing.

Kat Branch, Head of UWE Bristol’s Centre for Music who is leading the study said: "No research has been done on this scale before, and we’re really pleased to be collaborating with St George’s who have fantastic links in the Bristol community to make this happen.”

Natalie Cooper, Leader of Bristol-based Melody Makers Choir, which will be convening sessions during the project, said: “People often tell me after a choir rehearsal how it has made them feel so much better. 

"There’s nowhere like a choir – how many places can you go to genuinely make new friends, create beautiful music together, feel a sense of achievement, and feel safe knowing that everyone is equal?”

UK Music calls for ‘urgent action’ to halve VAT on gig tickets

Crowd at a rock concert
28 Feb 2024

Ahead of the Spring Budget on 6 March, UK Music has appealed to the Chancellor to support the music sector, including an extension on Orchestra Tax Relief.

Manchester arena in licensing row

27 Feb 2024

Manchester City Council's licensing committee has received objections to the planned opening of the 23,500-seat Co-Op Live arena in April from another local venue and the Music Venue Trust (MVT).

ASM Global, which operates the rival 21,000-capacity AO Arena, currently the UK's largest indoor venue, objected to Co-op Live's license citing "public safety" reasons.

The firm argued Co-op Live should close by midnight and not be given permission to open 24/7 on 25 occasions every year as requested.

During the hearing at Manchester Town Hall, Mark Donnelly, the COO of Co-Op Live's developer, responded:

"We are quite disappointed to see [ASM] trying to put conditions on us when they operate with an unrestricted licence.

"We feel these are competition-based. We feel there's very little from a licensing point of view."

Mr Donnelly also criticised MVT's objection, claiming that it had arisen because Co-op Live "declined" to sign up to MVT's £1-per-ticket levy, which funds its "pipeline investment fund" for grassroots venues.

Niall Forde, Licensing Advisor for MVT, said the claims were "inflammatory" and "entirely false".

He said MVT had supported the opening of the "23,500-seat auditorium bowl" but was concerned that allowing the venue's "ancillary spaces" to stay open later would impact neighbouring residents and businesses. Co-op Live would take trade off smaller venues, he added.

Previous objections to Co-Op Live from Greater Manchester Police, council trading standards, seven councillors and three residents were withdrawn after revisions were made by the organisation.

However, there is still opposition from ASM, MVT, 32 residents, two councillors and the council's public health team.

The licensing hearing continues.

DCMS rules out broadcast-style equitable remuneration for music

27 Feb 2024

Following an IPO-commissioned report, DCMS Minister Julia Lopez says government will not enforce equitable remuneration for music streaming and will instead convene a music industry working group to consider the matter.

Royal Academy of Music fears lasting Brexit 'damage'

21 Feb 2024

The UK's departure from the European Union may cause “terminal damage” to the UK’s music industry, the Principal of the Royal Academy of Music has said.

Speaking to the Scottish daily The National, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said the proportion of European students at the conservatoire has fallen by half since 2016 and warned that Brexit has “stopped the flow of talent coming in”.

“It has been a complete no-win situation, not just for higher education but actually for music higher education, and particularly an institution like this that was founded over 200 years ago by Europeans," he said.

“I think there will be terminal damage in an area where we have a world renowned reputation as educators and as people who make a difference worldwide in the creative industries.

“So at the moment, I think we're fighting against the tide and in some areas we're doing OK, but it's a colossal waste in terms of reputation, in terms of capability, in terms of possibility of things that Britain has always done incredibly well."

Peers urge Treasury to speed up admin for touring musicians

Single man traveller with a roller bag and instrument case in modern airport stock phot
21 Feb 2024

Peers have raised concerns that singers and musicians touring in the European Economic Area frequently do not receive necessary paperwork in time.

Manchester festival commits to supporting grassroots venues

21 Feb 2024

The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced an agreement with RADAR Festival for a percentage of every ticket to go towards supporting grassroots music venues via the charity’s Pipeline Investment Fund. 

RADAR Festival, the contemporary indoor music festival in Manchester, is the first festival to agree to donate to the Pipeline Investment Fund which has awarded more than £260,000 to 61 UK Grassroots Music Venues since it was founded in 2022.

Co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith said: “If we don’t protect the smaller venues then there isn’t a pipeline for the next [festival] headliners, and this ticking time bomb is something that the music industry can, and must, take action on.” 

MVT CEO and founder Mark Davyd said: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to RADAR Festival, for taking this bold step as the first festival to champion the Pipeline Investment Fund. 

"Their support is a strong commitment to the heart and soul of the UK's music scene, nurturing its roots through the vital network of Grassroots Music Venues."

Orchestras in healthcare

Musicians playing to patients in a care settting
20 Feb 2024

A recent report reinforces the UK-wide picture of the great work orchestras do in delivering societal good. As Sarah Derbyshire writes, there are encouraging signs of progress over the past three years. 

Future of BBC Singers secured

15 Feb 2024

A project looking at the future of the BBC’s performing groups has concluded with the announcement that a sustainable future has been secured. 

The BBC Singers will remain integral to the BBC’s classical music provision, working in partnership with The VOCES8 Foundation. 

BBC Singers staff will continue to be employed by the BBC and remain core to Radio 3 and the Proms. 

The announcement comes after the BBC revealed plans to close its in-house choir, BBC Singers, last March. That decision was overturned after a public outcry and an online petition with more than 145,000 signatures.

The BBC said: "The VOCES8 Foundation has considerable experience and expertise across music education and community engagement.

"This partnership builds on the valuable education and community work the BBC Singers already deliver across East London, as well as the commercial work already undertaken, and we will continue to identify new opportunities for additional revenue for the ensemble."

Regarding its orchestras, the BBC said it is working closely with the Musicians’ Union to consider new opportunities as work develops across broadcast, education and commercial activity.

"This will be a gradual process in which we will work closely with the Unions and our musicians, alongside a review to modernise terms and conditions making sure these are aligned with the BBC’s principles of fairness and transparency," it added.

The BBC will also pursue an Orchestral Tax Relief application, which will be central in ensuring the sustainability of the six groups amid ongoing financial challenges.

The Musicians’ Union and the BBC jointly said: “[We] have engaged in constructive talks over recent months. We are pleased that we have a strategy which secures the future of the BBC Singers, and we look forward to celebrating their centenary year." 

Paul Smith (CEO) and Barnaby Smith (Artistic Director) of The VOCES8 Foundation said: “As a global, artist-led charity dedicated to inspiring people through choral music, The VOCES8 Foundation was committed to a positive outcome for the future of the BBC Singers. The Foundation looks forward to working together with the BBC Singers to demonstrate how choral music can positively impact communities in the UK and worldwide in the 21st century.” 

Music licensing organisation to fund East London arts school

Year 12 students on ELAM's music course
13 Feb 2024

Phonographic Performance Limited will financially support programmes at East London Arts & Music that ensure equal access to the school's specialist education.

Badenoch blocks grant for NI rap trio over political views

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, pictured at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023.
12 Feb 2024

A spokesperson for Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said it was “hardly surprising” it had overturned Kneecap's funding award as the Northern Irish group is "opposed to the United Kingdom".

Northern Ballet confirms switch to recorded music

Northern Ballet's headquarters in Leeds
12 Feb 2024

The Musicians' Union 'rejects' Northern Ballet's decision to proceed with cutting the Sinfonia for some touring performances in 2024, labelling the move 'unacceptable'. 

Orchestra musicians walk out over unpaid fees

12 Feb 2024

Musicians from London Chamber Orchestra (LCO) walked out of a rehearsal on 7 February ahead of a performance in protest over unpaid wages.

Around half the players, who are all freelance, took action after voicing objections to five months of overdue payments, according to a report in The Observer. A subsequent performance by LCO at Cadogan Hall went ahead after other musicians were brought in to cover.

Jocelyn Lightfoot, the ensemble's Managing Director, said the issue arose after Barclays Bank froze LCO's account “with no prior warning". The action was part of Barclays' anti-crime measures.

Lightfoot said: “We kept the musicians informed during this period that their payment would go out as soon as the account was reopened, but as the timeline of the reopening was further delayed many times, it was difficult to provide musicians with a clear timeframe.

"We understand the monumental strain on this body of freelancers whose opportunities to work have been reduced and jeopardised due to sweeping cuts to orchestral funding.”

She confirmed that the payments have since been made.

A Barclays Bank spokesperson said: “We take the protection of our customers’ funds and data extremely seriously.

“As part of our ongoing responsibility to help prevent financial crime and to meet our regulatory responsibilities, we are required to ensure we hold up-to-date information regarding our customers’ accounts. Customers are also required to inform the bank in a timely manner of any change to their legal status relating to their business, charity or trust.”

Barclay’s anti-crime measures are understood to have affected other organisations, including the classical music venue, St John’s Smith Square, Surrey-based Clockwork Charitable Trust and the Ogmore Valley Male Voice Choir.

UK Music criticises funding withdrawal for post-16 music

06 Feb 2024

UK Music is calling on Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to halt “damaging” plans to withdraw funding for post-16 music qualifications.

Government has proposed reforms that would defund the current suite of vocational Level 3 qualifications for music by 2026.

Level 3 qualifications in music are aimed at giving 16- to 19-year-olds skills and knowledge to progress to other training, study and employment options in a range of music production and performance disciplines. UK Music says the qualification has left students well-prepared for the often non-linear career progression in the creative industries. 

In a letter to Keegan, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive Tom Kiehl says the move would leave approximately 30,000 young people a year without a viable alternative.

“Our primary concern relates to the planned defunding of the current suite of vocational Level 3 qualifications for music by 2026. There are not enough alternative options to fill the void that this creates,” Kiehl wrote.

“In the absence of a T-Level for Music, defunding for existing qualifications places a massive administrative burden on many in the music education sector, with qualifications having to be rewritten as Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) and approved by Department for Education. 

“While the introduction of AAQs is not new, its requirement for 'assessment by examination' poses a great challenge for educators to implement the necessary course changes within the timeframe available. Moreover, this approach to learning risks diminishing accessibility to a subject that has traditionally empowered learners from diverse learning styles and backgrounds.”

Kiehl's letter continues: “We therefore ask for an immediate pause in the defunding of all music qualifications that are due to be effectively ‘turned off’ by 2026 and ask for a meeting with you and a representative group of impacted music education providers to find a way forward.

“As an industry, we acknowledge that our success depends on a diverse and accessible range of education and skills options at various levels. Vocational Level 3 qualifications are crucial for the music talent pipeline and are often overlooked.”

Welsh government boosts its support for grassroots venues

A man plays guitar at a small gig
05 Feb 2024

17 music venues will share funding of over £700k to help improve facilities and make venues more accessible.

Survey to review pay transparency for live music freelancers

05 Feb 2024

Music sector body LIVE has launched a survey to understand and identify changes required to improve the experience of freelancers working in the live music industry.

The Hidden Side of Freelancing will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. 

It can be completed anonymously. The results will be assessed, then used in a publicly available report to be published in April 2024.

“This survey will give freelancers in our industry the information needed to get the most out of the work they do and help to deliver impact change for every freelancer and the organisations that rely on freelance talent,” said LIVE CEO Jon Collins.

Technical Production Manager Paul Jones says one of the biggest single questions raised on the Live Event Freelancers Forum is about wages and pay rates.

“This survey gives every live event freelancer a chance to give accurate and honest information, and anonymously if need be. 

“There has never been more of a need to gain accurate information on pay and conditions for the freelance community so we can gather valuable insight and help shape the future of our sector and industry well into the future.

“If you are a freelancer in the live sector, you should not ignore this survey. It should be one of the most important things you do in 2024. It's your industry, let’s make a difference.”

The survey will close on 23 February.

Music streaming code of practice published

31 Jan 2024

A code of practice to provide clarity over methods of calculating and reporting revenues from music streaming has been published.

Music Week reports that the voluntary code, published by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), has been developed and agreed by 12 music industry bodies representing music creators, record labels, publishers, digital service providers, distributors and collecting societies. 

Those to have signed up include Association of Independent Music, the British Phonographic Industry, the Independent Society of Musicians, the Musicians’ Union and PRS For Music.

The IPO will have oversight of the code and its implementation and will convene meetings of signatory organisations every six months to consider how the code is working, with a formal review in 2026.

"The Code is intended to act as a stimulus for companies and organisations to provide ever better communications with each other and with music makers," the IPO said. 

"It seeks to create a race to the top by driving up standards and encouraging parties to be transparent.  

"For the avoidance of doubt, any failure to abide by this Code shall not constitute a breach of any legislation or any relevant contracts, including licensing, recording, publishing and distribution agreements, which are regulated by their own terms."

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