Music

A company that owns a nationwide chain of music venues has announced record profits for the 2023 financial year.

The Electric Group owns and operates live music venues, including Electric Brixton, SWX Bristol and NX Newcastle.

The company reported earnings of £1.98m for 2023, up from £1.04m in 2022 and £1.36m for the year before the pandemic.

It is hoping to expand its operations and is assessing the viability of three new venues.

The company, which bought the freehold to the Leadmill in Sheffield in 2017, has been embroiled in a prolonged dispute with the historic club's managers after serving them with an eviction notice in 2022.

Electric Group CEO Dominic Madden commented: “As a company we embody the spirit of independence. We thrive on collaboration, working hand-in-hand with artists, fans, and partners to foster a music community that dares to be different.

“It’s not just about preserving history, it’s about breathing fresh vitality into every venue. We embrace innovation and consistently seek ways to invigorate oculturally significantant venues. We are delighted with the outstanding financial results of our company.

"We are delighted with the outstanding financial results of our company. Although we have had some unique challenges to deal with in the post Covid era including dealing with the catastrophic arson attack at SWX Bristol, the demand for live music and our curated approach to music programming of events is unabated."

A US company has withdrawn its proposal to build a Las Vegas-style immersive “Sphere” venue in Stratford, calling the planning process “a political football between rival parties”.

In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate withdrawing its application, Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) said it was "extremely disappointing" that Londoners would "not benefit from the Sphere's groundbreaking technology and the thousands of well-paying jobs it would have created.”

"After spending millions of pounds acquiring our site in Stratford and collaboratively engaging in a five-year planning process with numerous governmental bodies, including the local planning authority who approved our plans following careful review, we cannot continue to participate in a process that is merely a political football between rival parties."

MSG had hoped to build the LED-clad venue to host concerts, shows and sporting events on a vacant 4.7 acre site last used as a coach park during the 2012 Olympics.

In December, Housing Secretary Michael Gove instigated a review of London Mayor Sadiq Khan's rejection of planning permission for the 21,000-capacity venue.

Khan told BBC London that he “welcomed music venues in London” but rejected the proposal based on “consequences to [local] residents if this globe was to be built, the impacts on them in relation to light, the impact in relation to their amenities and on planning grounds”.

A scheme to offer young people in Darlington opportunities in the live music sector has received funding from the Arts Council England (ACE).

The Forum Music Studios have been awarded £36,754 by ACE for the project, alongside £1000 from Creative Darlington, which is operated by Darlington Borough Council, towards running costs.

Launched by a community benefit society, The Forum Music Studio's “Young Blood” programme will run throughout 2024 and comprise three strands: Creators, Promoters, and Live, with professional support and mentorship.

Creators will offer weekly music skills sessions to 13- to 17-year-olds, while Promoters has been designed for 16-24-year-olds and will provide the opportunity to organise a live event with a budget under guidance from industry professionals.

The programmes culminate in Young Blood Live, a monthly gig for teenagers that will be held at The Forum.

Alison McKay, Director of The Forum Music Studios, said: “The music industry was heavily impacted by COVID-19, so it’s a privilege to be able to invite future generations to get involved in the Young Blood scheme and to be able to share their passion for live music.”

Seven music projects will receive funding for collaborative commissions that will tour the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The support comes from the PRS Foundation’s Beyond Borders programme, run in partnership with Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland.

Established in 2010, Beyond Borders aims to support co-commissions and tours that “stimulate collaboration between composers, performance groups and music organisations” across the UK and Ireland.

Funded projects in the latest round include a commission for new music performed by brass bands all over the UK commemorating 40 years since the miners' strikes. 

Elizabeth Sills, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation, said: “It's great to see the fantastic collaborations between organisations across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to bring these exciting new music projects from talented music creators to audiences across five nations.  

“I know all the Beyond Borders partners are very much looking forward to each project coming to life next year and seeing the impact these supported projects will have on the music creators, musicians and organisations involved.”

The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) has labelled secondary music teacher recruitment as “not good enough” after the Department for Education revealed that it only reached 27% of its target.

The target for trainee music teachers has only been reached once in the last 10 years (in 2020/21). Before this year, the previous low was 64% in 2022/23, when 301 teachers were recruited against a target of 470.

For 2023/24, the government set a higher target of 790, which it missed by more than two-thirds. Overall, the government missed its target for all secondary teacher recruitment by 50 per cent this year.

The government published its National Plan for Music Education in 2021, outlining its vision for music education in England until 2030 and announcing that £25m would be available to schools to purchase instruments and equipment.

Last month, DfE announced that trainee music teachers at secondary level will be entitled to a bursary of £10,000 from September 2024 after previously axing the support in 2020.

ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said: “Meeting just 27% of the secondary music trainee teacher recruitment target is dire and simply not good enough from the government.

“A career as a music teacher can be hugely rewarding, and our teachers make an enormous difference to the lives of their students.

“The government must urgently look at the decline of music in schools due to accountability measures, the EBacc and Progress 8, as well as the pay of teachers as current policies have led to this situation where would-be teachers are put off. 

“The government set out ambitious plans for music in the refreshed National Plans for Music Education; however, without the workforce to deliver it, those plans will never be realised, and the teaching of music may disappear in schools. All this will damage the education our students receive, our music sector and the precious talent pipeline.”
 

A music venue in Bath that has hosted some of the biggest names in UK music has closed with immediate effect.

The Music Venue Trust said that the city's Moles venue has filed for insolvency, stating that the rise in costs and overheads and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis have made it impossible to continue.

Since opening its doors in 1978, the 220-capacity venue has hosted acts including Ed Sheeran, The Killers, Fat Boy Slim, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, The Smiths and Idles during the early stages of their careers.

Tom Maddicott, co-owner of Moles, said: "Massively increased costs of stock, utilities and rent compounded by our customers also feeling the impact of the crisis has made it impossible to continue. 

"It’s obviously an incredibly difficult decision to have to take, for our team, the staff, the local community, and the artists that over the years have created such an incredible history of music.

"But the reality is that live music at grassroots level is no longer economically viable, and we will not be the only grassroots music venue forced to close. 

"There needs to be a major shake-up of the live industry with the big players supporting the grassroots where it all begins to secure that pipeline of talent."

Dartington Summer School and Festival, held in Devon for 75 years, will move to Norfolk in 2024. 

Attracting hundreds of professional and amateur musicians, the festival has taken place at Dartington Hall near Exeter since 1953, but earlier this month, the estate’s trust said the event was "under review". The trust also announced that Artistic Director Sara Mohr-Pietsch and the summer school team stepped down.

The independent Dartington International Summer School Foundation, which supports the event, has announced it will hold a summer school and festival in July 2024 at Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk. 

A spokesperson told the BBC it would provide "a fabulous base... with stunning performance and rehearsal facilities along with relaxing and comfortable residential accommodation for participants, all surrounded by beautiful grounds and woodlands".

Totnes councillor Georgina Allen said: "It’s such a shame to see this go – it has been a big part of the cultural offering of this part of Devon”, adding that she hoped other festivals and events would partner with the trust.