Music

Young musicians will benefit from a new international exchange scheme at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) when it launches in September.

The Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme, named for its benefactor, offers exchanges ranging from one week to a year in length at internationally renowned conservatoires.

Twelve schools including Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Renia Sofia School of Music in Madrid, Berlin's Hanns Eisler Academy, Sydney Conservatorium of Music and The Julliard School have confirmed exchanges thus far.

RAM Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said the participating institutions have "long been friends" of the academy.

"What drives this latest programme is the need for music - indeed all the arts - to break down the kinds of boundaries and barriers which actively work against the open spirit of creative enquiry and collaboration between different countries."

Disappointment was "inevitable" when the English Touring Opera (ETO) diversified its orchestra, its management says.

The organisation has offered a belated response to criticism from the Musicians' Union (MU) over its decision to cut 13 of its long-contracted freelance musicians in September.

ETO says open auditions were held for the first time in many years because the orchestra was exclusively made up of people who played on previous seasons or were recommended by them.

"We also felt that this would help us to progress our ambitions in the fields of equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace," a statement released on Wednesday (December 8) reads.

44 musicians were auditioned out of 266 applicants and selections were "based solely on those musicians’ capabilities, on the grounds of excellence only".

"With so many high-quality players in the pool it was inevitable that some would be disappointed," ETO said.

It plans to repeat the process next summer: "In advance of that, we plan to consult widely with other performing companies, and relevant industry organisations, including the MU, so that we can provide further reassurance of equal and fair treatment."

A Night Time Advisor in every major city will help kickstart the industry's recovery.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) hopes to establish 12 new advisors to match those in Bristol, London and Greater Manchester.

Covid-19 closures and restrictions have caused an estimated 90,000 job losses, with a third of the UK’s nightclubs no longer trading.

The advisors will act as representatives for local nightlife, reporting to their local or combined authority executive to spotlight regional issues.

NTIA CEO Michael Kill says this is the only way the sector can recover its pre-pandemic vibrance.

“We would call on all relevant local and combined authorities to engage with us on this to benefit the many millions who want to see thriving night time economies all over the UK.”

Two touts who amassed millions reselling tickets have had appeals against their convictions dismissed.

BBZ Limited’s Peter Hunter and David Thomas Smith were jailed in February 2020 following the first successful prosecution of a company over fraudulent ticket resales. 

The pair will now serve their full sentences - four years and to-and-a-half years respectively. 

They used at least 97 different names, 88 postal addresses and more than 290 email addresses to evade ticketing platform restrictions for events including Ed Sheeran concerts and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre performances.

Upon upholding the conviction, The Court of Appeal noted: "[The] ticketing market is one which appears to be characterised by a high degree of criminal fraud.”

National Trading Standards Director Wendy Martin called the ruling a “major milestone” in efforts to combat unscrupulous secondary ticket sales.

Plans for Edinburgh's first new concert hall in a century have been approved.

Local councillors voted on Wednesday (November 24) in favour of the £75m project to be sited between St Andrew's Square and the St James Quarter.

Due to open in 2026, the venue will host music of all kinds as well as spoken word events and act as the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Previous plans were scuppered by a legal challenge from developers of a nearby hotel complex. 

Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish Government, UK Government, and American philanthropist Carol Grigor are funding the project.

Ten creatives will receive £1,000 and development opportunities via Manchester International Festival's MIF Sounds initiative.

MIF Sounds launched at the height of the pandemic, helping musicians to continue working and work outside their comfort zone during an uncertain time.

This year's applicants can apply for anything from recording music, presenting a gig, releasing a record or starting a label imprint.

MIF Head of Music Jane Besse said the company is committed to helping rebuild the sector post-Covid.

One in three music sector jobs were lost in the sector as employment fell from a high of 197,000 in 2019 to 128,000 people in 2020, according to UK Music.

"We encourage everyone involved in the local music scene to apply - artists, technicians, promoters, venues, labels, managers and beyond," Besse said.

Collection societies Performing Right Society (PRS) and Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Limited (MCPS) have signed a simplified service agreement to the end of 2025.

The pair say the deal will save on administrative costs for rightsholders and make the licensing process easier. 

PRS and the MPA Group, owners of MCPS, collectively represent the rights of over 185,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers globally.

“Our partnership with MCPS dates back almost 25 years. In that time, the music landscape has changed vastly and continues to do so,” said PRS for Music CEO Andrea Czapary Martin.

“We are looking forward to continuing our vital work with MCPS, as we strive to optimise our partnerships and joint ventures to maximise member income.”