27/10/2008 UK MUSIC: a new chapter for the UK’s commercial music industry

Today marks the launch of UK Music, a new organisation to unify and express the collective interests of artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, major and independent record labels, music managers, music publishers, collecting societies and studio producers.

Representing the memberships of AIM, BAC&S, BPI, MCPS-PRS Alliance, MMF, MPA, MU and PPL, today’s announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] in September 2008.

As the industry’s unit for public policy and lobbying, public communications and public opinion, research and analysis and industry-relevant education and skills, UK Music will be headed by Feargal Sharkey (CEO) and Andy Heath (Chairman), both formerly of British Music Rights.

Commented Feargal Sharkey: “The launch of UK Music marks a bold new chapter for the UK’s commercial music industry. Our financial services sector might be in turmoil, but the UK’s artists, songwriters and composers continue to innovate and trail blaze – bringing together communities, defining our national identity and kickstarting a value chain worth billions of pounds. Quite simply, music is one of the few areas where this nation continues to punch above its weight and something we should all be celebrating.

“UK Music will serve a huge spectrum of the commercial music sector, and championing our industry’s creativity and shared commercial interests will be at the heart of what we do.”

Andy Heath added: “Until now, it has been incredibly difficult to establish a unified music business position, whether that’s concerning illegal file-sharing or music education. In that sense, this new organisation, which pulls together and represents such a wide range of interests, is a real game-changer. UK Music will supplement the viewpoints of its diverse and vibrant membership; providing a crisp, clear and coherent voice to government, media and the wider world that such a first-class industry deserves.”

As part of today’s announcement, UK Music is delighted to unveil the first wave of its strategy programme.

This includes:

• A collective cross-industry submission to government on illegal file-sharing - on October 30th, UK Music will deliver a pan-industry submission to government’s consultation on legislative options to address illicit P2P file-sharing.

• The world’s first Creators’ Conference – taking place in December 2008, this unprecedented event will place a selection of our finest artists, songwriters and composers before those UK and European policy-makers whose decisions impact directly upon their livelihoods.

• Thought-provoking research projects – UK Music has recommissioned the University of Hertfordshire to follow up its behavioural survey of the digital consumption patterns of young music fans, with more research projects to follow.

• A commitment to music-based education – Sound Rights, a free online resource to meet changes in the KS3 music curriculum will be unveiled in November 2008. UK Music will also continue to promote Quickstart Music (a Young Enterprise programme allowing young people to run music enterprises in their own schools) and the DCMS/DCSF initiative to create a network of music rehearsal spaces in deprived areas of the UK.

• The preparation of a Music Industry Manifesto – By early 2009, UK Music will have prepared and agreed a Music Industry Manifesto that articulates the range and depth of government support required for the long-term prosperity of the music and other creative industries.





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