The first debate in the House of Commons on arts and culture in over five years took place on 19th June 2013. Given the huge economic and cultural value the sector generates, how important to the government is the future? Maybe the clue is in the massive turn out (See picture above). Some valuable arguments were raised, including the BBC representation of regional broadcast production and investment to the Midlands. Here is the transcript or you can cringe through the video here:
If you are interested to read how some people perceive, research and formulate recommendations for the growth of the Independent Music Sector in Birmingham, read through this document: Does Birmingham punch below its weight? Research and recommendations for growth of the Independent Music Sector in Birmingham by Councillor Ernie Hendricks, James Burkmar, Kevin D’Costa. It has only taken three years of emails, phone calls, and meetings to chase down and read a copy of this, but read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
And if you want more, to put some context around what’s been going on over the years, have a read of this, it’s an eye opener. Birmingham: How to kill a city – The Economist http://goo.gl/fb/pZgKq – Britain’s planning laws all too often restrict and prevent investment which might create economic growth. It is worth remembering occasionally that things were once even worse. For proof of that, see this fascinating post on Birmingham’s economy in the 1950s and 1960s, by Henry Overman, of the LSE’s Spatial Economics Research Centre. It’s worth reading. A shorter version here: http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2013/05/birmingham
After May 2011 Emma Williamson (Group Overview and Scrutiny Manager) & Baseema Begum (Research & Policy Officer) at the Scrutiny Office of Birmingham City Council got in touch. Emma & Baseema sent through several documents that asked a number of interesting questions. Rather than try to answer the questions on your behalf, The Music Network decided to pass the questions on to you direct.
The Music Network hope the discussion will continue. We have collected together your opinions, consultation and research here in the Strategy category.
In February 2012 An email and Scrutiny Report Document was sent to us by Baseema Begum, Research & Policy Officer, Scrutiny Office, Birmingham City Council. The email read as follows: Continue reading
Last year, Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry was asked to answer 10 Questions. In 2011 The Music Network is asking Another 10 Questionsto continue the discussion. Replies by email can be sent to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com
In recent weeks Emma Williamson (Group Overview and Scrutiny Manager) & Baseema Begum (Research & Policy Officer) at the Scrutiny Office of Birmingham City Council have been in touch. Emma & Baseema sent through several documents that ask a number of interesting questions. Rather than try to answer the questions on your behalf, The Music Network has decided to pass the questions on to you direct. The questions have no deadline for submission, the questions will be open to anyone to answer at any time. Your thoughts and opinions are welcome, at any time. We hope the discussion will continue. For more opinion, consultation and research we have collected together, read through our posts so far in the Strategy category.
If you want to submit your own “Ten Questions” or even just “One new question” please email them in. When we have enough, I’ll post them as “More Questions”. Completed submissions will be published at http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com unless you state otherwise. Please include your Name, brief biography or information about who you are and what you do, and links to your website or blog. You will be credited as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We may learn something. I will invite Emma, Baseema and their colleagues to read your published answers here on the website for themselves.
The following questions have been inspired by the contents of a letter to Birmingham Music Network from Councillor Philip Parkin, Chairman – Leisure, Sport and Culture, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB. (The letter was dated 29 July 2011)
The Music Network invites people with an interest or active role within Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry to answer 10 questions.
There has a been a lot of discussion around these Ten questions. The questions have no deadline for submission, the questions will be open to anyone to answer at any time. You thoughts and opinions are welcome, at any time.
For more opinion, consultation and research we have collected together, read through our posts in the Strategy category.
If you want to submit your own Ten Questions or even just One new question please email them in. When we have enough, I’ll post them as “Another Ten Questions”.
Completed submissions will be published at http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com unless you state otherwise. Please include your Name, brief biography or information about who you are and what you do, and links to your website or blog. You will be credited as the author of the response. Views from all sides are sought so don’t be afraid to speak your mind. We may learn something.
Submission by email send to: info at birminghammusicnetwork.com – Thank You.
10 Questions for Birmingham’s Independent Music Industry:
1. In your view, what is the current state of the region’s “Independent Music Industry?”
2. What do you think are it’s immediate needs with reference to the areas that you are most familiar with?
3. As far as the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what do you think shows the greatest potential for the next few years?
4. In recent years, there has been a range of initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham. Can you list 5 projects or initiatives that you think have proved beneficial to the “Independent Music Industry?”
5. Can you list any projects or initiatives that you think have proved “of little use or benefit” to the “Independent Music Industry?”
6. With regard to your answers to questions 4 and 5, do you think Birmingham should continue to pursue the idea of more initiatives and projects designed to support the development of music in Birmingham?
7. If you could make any changes to, or include any new ideas for, any “strategy for supporting the development of music in Birmingham” what would your top priorities be?
8. If you were given the task of evaluating whether a project or initiative had been successful, what would you suggest as the best indicators of success, failure, benefit or disaster for the “Independent Music Industry?”
9. As far as your knowledge or understanding of the region’s “Independent Music Industry” is concerned, what are it’s greatest strengths, and what are it’s greatest weaknesses?
10. If you could do anything to “support the development of music in Birmingham” what would you do and why would you choose to do that?
(The term “Region” as far as these questions are concerned refers to Birmingham or the geographic area Birmingham City Council works within.)
I have also quoted a number of existing articles below. Can anyone suggest any other existing articles that the group should read and consider that may have been omitted?
Mark Badger (Iron Man Records / The Music Network), Keisha Thompson (M.M.I), Simon Howes (Sound Engineer), Hannah Smith (‘iamRuby’ Singer Songwriter), Darren Roberts (University of Birmingham), Kieran Williams (ATM), Gary Seeney (Birmingham Yamaha School of Music / Melting Ice Artist Management), Marc Malone (ATM Malone Productions), Richard Mitton (Mitton Audio Live Engineer / producer), Michael Wood(Songwriter performer Composer), Jenny Tate (Violet Sky Management Ltd), Andy Roberts (Blue Whale Studios), Sebastion Tulinski (Decibel Studio), Steve Beddington (Gotseen.com), Kieran Graham (Gotseen.com), Clare Edwards (Soweto Kinch productions), Nicola Toms OxjamBrum, Rose Brown Upbeat PR, Mark Winters (BCC / Songwriter / Performer), Adrian Kimberlin (Exit Recording), Saurabh Thomas (BCI Student), Alice Martinez (Academy of Gospel Music),Itehl Campbell (Accuprint / Promo), Thomas Richardson, GuillameRousere, Spence Cater (Focuspoint photography.co.uk), Ed King (edkingfreelance@yahoo.co.uk)
apologies: Dusky Edwards, Anthony Hughes, Andy Derrick,
Steve Beddington: Gotseen.com Music Website, similar to myspace, artist’s do what they like Gotseen.com offers live streaming of gigs across the net. At The moment they have permission to use the 02Academy Recent good reviews in Music Week and Guardian 6 months old so far. Contact: steve at gotseen.com
Michael: A songwriter, interested in working to promote a christmas song Looking for a music producer and someone who knows what to do with a christmas song suggestions: Barry Tomes? Gotham Records? discussion followed.
Rich: A sound engineer, interested in looking for work providing technical support he can offer production management, front of house engineer, looking for work www.mittonaudio.wordpress.com Sound engineer for hire plus all forms of production and technical support.
Darren: Doing a phd at Birmingham university. He wants to talk to people as part of his research, looking to talk to people in the music industry in attempt to get an idea of what happens in the growth and development of entities in the music industry. He is looking at power relations within the industry. dxr827@bham.ac.uk 07727689806 please get in touch if you want to participate.
Kieran: Currently working with ITV fixers and looking to get his music into tv like bbc looking for event opportunities www.myspace.com/kvibe1 07973998661
Keisha Thompson: Here on behalf of a friend organising shows on the 2nd and 4th week of month at the yardbird if you are an artist or musician and want to play at Yardbird if you want to play jazz blues reggae or soul or acoustic: Call: 07776 480734
Clare Edwards: The Flyover Show working with Soweto Kinch www.soweto-kinch.com Miss Dynamite will be playing and exclusively performing new single for first time at the event. 29th May 2010 Saturday its all freeif anyone wants to volunteer get in touch with clare edwards. clareedwards at mac.com 07973694913 www.theflyovershow.comEd King: First year he has worked on the Flyover Show. Concept of the event is using parts of the city that dont usually get used for music.
Nicola: Oxjam Birmingham wants to put out request for help. Oxjam is run by volunteers with other full time jobs Oxjam are trying to recruit a team of volunteers, marketing coordinator, production coordinator, fundraining coordinator details on website www.oxjambrum.org.uk deadline to apply is 9th May. Job starts early june also recruiting for one other position: smaller music event organisers in the region wanted for an idea to put on more events in October which is oxjam month. Oxjam Month is a music month that runs up and down the country.
Rose: Student from BCU Rose said that one of the researchers at BCU came up with an idea of a Birmingham Music Month and tried to organise it last year but the project didnt work and was deemed a failure. BCU has suggested birmingham music month should be run as a student project this year and the students are keen to do it properly this time and make it work. The whole idea of a Birmingham Music Month is being relaunched and May is now the Music Month. Rose asked that anyone who wants to get involved in BirminghamMusic Month should get in touch, in particular anyone organising an event in the month of May. Currently the only event organised under Birmingham Music Month is an all day event at the Rainbow May 6th from 2pm www.brummusicmonth.co.uk May is now brum music month the charity to benefit from bum music month will be sound it out. It would be great if people can come to the event or if people want to get involved email: roseybrown@live.com
Mark Winters New library of Birmingham is starting to be put together, in 2013 it will be a brand new building, possibly to include a recording or rehearsal studios, maybe looking at partnerships to help plan rooms or ideas for the new library mark.winters@birmingham.gov.uk
Hannah: Singer Songwriter in pop rock genre ‘iamRuby’ is her artist name She has co-written many of the songs and she wants to get these songs out to other producers also interested in opportunities to play and perfom from september onwards, interested in collaborations. she will be doing national schools tour backed by global radio and idea is that in certain areas they will be media partners iamRuby@hotmail.co.uk
Tom: in a band called Thomas Richardson Blues Band. His band have started opening up for band called after hours band play originals to covers, play a lot of blues music. Tom is also a sound engineer from yardbird, used to work at venues, foh, thomas.blrichardson at gmail.com
Tom asked about places to play and suggestions made included: tower of song, southern blues collective,
Kevin
from south birmingham college Kevin is head of Music at South Birmingham Community Radio He is getting ready for next broadcast and on internet Kevin wants bands and labels to get in touch: send in cds or mp3 www.southbirminghamcommunityradio.co.uk sbcradio at gmail.com put: “attention head of music” in subject of any emails
Lee Ditto music Ditto distribute about 12,000 artists and help people set up record labels etc lee@dittomusic.com 0121 551 6624 also offer digital pr
Alice: Works at Academy of Gospel Music just opened in hockley Its a christian type organisation Currently looking for opportunities she is a manager of amazing artist called: www.myspace.com/afropunkno1 live sound engineer and also studio engineer martinez@niktame.re studio based in hockley part of academny of gosel music
Andy from Blue Whale Studios does a show on Rhubarb Radio, get in touch with cds or mp3 for airplay
Simon Howes
Birmingham Social Media Cafe for anyone interested in social media 10am at the coffee lounge navigation street downstairs www.birminghamsmc.com
