Music

UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, the women’s European football championship, will run a cultural programme alongside the tournament coming to England this summer.

The arts programme will be managed by the Football Association (FA) and is made possible through an £800,000 Arts Council England grant.

Three commissioned projects will harness culture to celebrate the history of women’s football, including an opportunity open to the public to create an original anthem for the championship.

“The combined forces of culture and sport have the power to improve lives, regenerate neighbourhoods, support local economies and bring people together nationally and internationally,” ACE Chief Executive Darren Henley said.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally cleared Sony’s takeover of record labels AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring Rights.

The watchdog referred the acquisition to a formal investigation last September, raising concerns the merger could worsen deals for artists.

Its investigation concluded the deal does not substantially reduce competition in the UK and is not be expected to do so in the future.

Chair of the independent CMA Inquiry Group Margot Daly said a combination of other major labels and independent providers will continue to closely rival Sony.

The CMA is now asking for views on its provisional findings by March 4, with a statutory deadline for its final decision of March 17.

Nightlife businesses have experienced a 26% rise in their operating costs in the past year.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) survey reveals the ongoing effects of the pandemic, with businesses on average operating at 68.9% of their pre-pandemic trading levels.

Further cost increases are expected in April, with national living wage, national insurance, VAT and business rates all scheduled to rise.

NTIA CEO Michael Kill said many businesses will be forced to pass cost increases on to customers or risk going bust.

“These statistics show just how bleak things remain for our sector.

“I would now, even at this late stage, urge the Chancellor to postpone all the tax increases to give some perfectly viable night time economy businesses a fighting chance of survival.”
 

The BBC Concert Orchestra is taking up a three-year residency in Great Yarmouth.

The move is part of Create Yarmouth, a collaboration with Orchestras Live and East Anglian arts organisations, which aims to to provide new music learning pathways.

BBC Concert Orchestra musicians will deliver workshops in every Great Yarmouth primary school, with free school concerts also scheduled.

Local young producers will develop their cultural industry skills by helping deliver parts of the programme.

A Heritage Action Zone cultural programme will see small ensembles perform in community settings across the region.

More than a quarter (26%) of live music shows scheduled for the first three months of 2022 have been cancelled.

New research from industry lobby group LIVE says a “perfect storm” of Covid and Brexit have damaged public confidence.

Fear of further restrictions was cited as one of the main reasons for cancellations.

Concerns remain over Brexit, with 90% believing it will negatively affect the industry once markets fully reopen.

44% of upcoming shows featuring international artists have been cancelled. 

LIVE CEO Greg Parmley welcomed restrictions on live music venues coming to an end, but said the industry still faces serious challenges.

“It will take a long time for us to recover from the worst period in history of the industry and the Government need to fully understand the challenges we face.”
 

Musical theatre students can now take exams across eight ABRSM grades.

Two new higher grades of Singing for Musical Theatre exams have launched and can be assessed in two formats; pre-recorded or live.

ABSRM says new repertories were designed to appeal to diverse tastes. Song lists across existing syllabuses have also been refreshed.

Academic Director Philippa Bunting says the courses are designed to "encourage the real-life musical skills that are needed to enhance rehearsals and performances alike".

Scotland will ease its Covid restrictions from Monday (January 24), removing limits on attendance at indoor events.

Nightclubs can reopen from the same date, coinciding with the end of social distancing requirements.

Scotland's Covid certifiaction scheme will be only be mandatory for entry to events of over 1,000 people. 

Organisers must check proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test for whichever is lower of 1,000 people or half an event's attendees. 

The Scottish Government says it stopped short of certifiaction checks at all venues because of the "significant fall" in Covid cases.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan said the restrictions, announced before Christmas, had effectively shut down the majority of theatres in Scotland. 

"It will be a huge relief to theatres, artists and audiences that they will soon be able to reopen."