Music

The UK's recorded music industry was worth £1.3bn last year, keeping its title as the world's third-largest music market, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reports.

Trailing the US and Japan, it experienced 13.2% growth in revenues in 2021 - slower than the global average of 18.5%.

Recorded music revenues grew in every region, with the Middle East and North Africa and Latin America outpacing the rest of the world (35% and 31% growth respectively).

Streaming was unsurprisingly behind most of the increase, contributing 65% of recorded music revenues.

Plans to revert VAT on ticket sales to pre-pandemic levels will be “hugely damaging” for the music industry.

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to scrap an anticipated 7.5% hike on live event ticket sales expected in next week's 'mini-Budget'. 

A return to 20% would see the UK’s VAT on tickets - already one of the highest in Europe - far surpass levels set in Spain (10%), Germany (7%) and Belgium (6%), the association says.

Promoters and music industry chiefs are concerned it will force rising in ticket prices, which Njoku-Goodwin said would "leave music fans facing a cost of gigging crisis”.

“Dumping the planned VAT hike would help keep ticket prices down for fans and help music businesses pay down debts they built up during the pandemic, generate thousands of new jobs and nurture new talent,” he added.

£25m has been committed to build the Dunard Centre, a long-awaited and much-debated concert hall in Edinburgh.

The Royal Bank of Scotland and Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal Joint Committee stumped up the funding as part of the £75m project budget. £15m more must still be fundraised.

City councillors green lit plans the new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra late last year. Initial plans were successfully challenged in court by hotel developers who worried the venue would block city views.

It will be Edinburgh's first new music venue in 100 years and the "cultural flagship" of its City Region Deal.

"I know so many people in the city are looking forward to enjoying all that this first-class cultural experience has to offer," Council Leader Adam McVey said.

Construction is due to begin soon on a site between St Andrew's Square and the St James Quarter. 

The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) is going on tour for the first time.

The orchestra consists of disabled and non-disabled musicians aged 11-25 playing both acoustic and electronic instruments tailored to disabled performers.

Launched in 2018, the orchestra is the world’s first disabled-led national youth ensemble.

NOYO says performances will be presented in a relaxed atmosphere to accommodate a neurodiverse audience, with dimmed lights, relaxed seating and consideration towards noise and audience movements.

A programme of four events, starting in London on April 24, is scheduled through to June.

Female artists working on the Celtic Connections festival have claimed they were pressured into having sex in return for bookings.

Five women say they were assaulted or feared losing opportunities to perform if they spoke out.

The festival was awarded a share of the Scottish Government's £2m Festivals Expo Fund on Tuesday (February 8).

A Celtic Connections spokesperson said its Bit Collective is helping individuals who have faced harassment to come forward.

"Our main objective is for everyone to create and enjoy world class culture experiences in a safe and comfortable setting".

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will investigate the streaming market "from creator to consumer" following a year-long inquiry by MPs.

The office will consider whether the dominance of major labels is stifling competition or affording any players "excessive power".

While it could be a significant step forward for music creators seeking fair payment, progress remains slow - the DCMS Committee's inquiry and an investigation by the Intellectual Property Office have turned up more evidence but no answers.

The CMA is inviting comments on a study of the market until February 17, with an eye to publishing its findings early next year.

A helpline for music industry workers facing bullying and harassment will go live in March.

Service providers Help Musicians developed the idea after The Musicians Union received hundreds of reports of workplace bullying and harassment through its SafeSpace service.

The anonymous helpline will offer emotional support, guidance on how to raise and resolve the issue, and advice on rights and avenues for formal action.

Industry leaders, including UK Music CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin and Musicians Union Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl, have welcomed the service.

“The music industry must take a united approach and keep working to bring about lasting change to ensure every workplace is a truly welcoming and inclusive place for everyone,” Njoku-Goodwin said.