How can Government help creative entrepreneurs? What questions would you ask Policy Advisors on this issue?

Clare Edwards would like you to send her YOUR views, opinions and questions to put to some senior civil servants at Downing Street on the subject of “How can Government help creative entrepreneurs?”

Clare says on her blog: “Well the latest opportunity is a chance to go to Downing Street next week to talk with senior civil servants (and possibly the odd policy advisor or Minister) in a 90 minute session to tell Government how they can better help creative entrepreneurs and where things are working and where are they failing.

I thought it would be interesting to see what questions you think I should be asking and in general what sort of constructive messages you think this group of policy makers and shapers should hear from creative businesses.

I’m not the only person who has been asked by the British Council to do this but I’m probably the only person from the the West Midlands so if you have ideas of how the government could help creative businesses in the future – leave me some comments and I’ll let you know which points I take with me and how I get on…

I have my own ideas on this but I’d love to go along with a broader understanding of the ideas, struggles and questions that others in the sector have. As you know I go with a music hat on personally but I think some of the issues for music are the same for other ‘creative industries‘. So if you run a creative business and think there is a burning issue I need to be aware of when I walk into Number 10 – let me know!

I’m going next Wednesday so you can suggest ideas right up to that time so…. I can take them with me!”

I’ve been reading with interest some of the comments already submitted including comments from Stef Lewandowski, Sarah Habgee, Nick Dunn, Ed King, Nick Booth, Dave Harte,  Norman Perrin, Robin Valk, and others. You can add your own comments, ideas or submit your questions to Clare Edwards here

Clare Edwards is a freelance music consultant and event organiser – she has run Gigbeth over the past few years, works with Soweto Kinch Productions, conducts Notorious and is a Chair of Sound It Out. Clare is involved with the board of Arts Council England WM, Moby Duck and is a Chair of Governors at a local primary school. In between Clare has found time to lead The Music Network monthly meeting and she sings with Ex Cathedra.

How does Iron Man Records choose it’s artists and how does it promote them?

An article about Iron Man Records, Birmingham writtten by JANINE LABUSCAGNE BA (HONS) Media & Communication, University of Central England, 2007.

“…..There are two kinds of music – good music and bad music.  Good music is music that I want to hear.  Bad music that I don’t want to hear” Fran Lebowitz, Metropolitan Life, 1978

The objective of this study discusses promotional strategies generated by the independent record label, Iron Man Records.  The research examined the use of the Internet as a free marketing tool and how traditional methods of running a label did not have an affect on Iron Man.  Discussing this, I examined the theoretical areas of music industries, promotion and punk in order to understand and gain a solid background for the development of my research.

Conclusions are then put forward after conducting a participant observation, that social networks play the biggest part in promotion for the label.  Findings throughout the research have been put forward about the different strategies used in the process of online promotion, as well as more general suggestions for further research.

‘De muziek is de geleende creativiteit en motivatie in ons leven’ (translated from Dutch), music is the borrowed creativity and motivation in our lives.  The music industry has had one of the biggest influences in our lives and on our culture.  An example of this would be Wall (2003) and Anderson’s (2006) statements which look at popular music as the: “soundtrack to our lives” (2003; 1) and that “we are consumed by hits – making them, choosing them, talking about them, and following their rise and fall” (2006; 2).  The world of the music industry is one which has been forced to make changes because of the constant development of new technologies.  These changes are in order to keep fans consuming the product that is for sale – music.  Britain is a nation of music lovers and we buy more music than any other country – four units per capita each year (IFPI Recording Industry in Numbers 2002).

The music genre known as punk, has been around since the late 1960s, when unemployment was a prominent social feature in Britain.  It would appear that we are currently witnessing a re-evolution of the music industry and punk’s DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos within independent record labels.  Beyond the development and creation of music, technology has created an impact on the production, distribution, and consumption of ‘Iron Man Records’ music.  “Record companies see the other media as promotional avenues for their music” (Wall 2003; 111).  There are many new and different social networks such as MySpace, MOG and Flickr which will be one of the main areas of focus for the research.  These social networks have evolved on the Internet and the trend displayed by many bands in choosing independent record labels, such as Iron Man Records, above major record labels demonstrates what Barrow and Newby argued about how the music industry:

“Without popular recording artists there would be no music business and without record companies there would be no musical product to be bought in the shops” (1995: 2-3).

The research question, ‘How does the punk music label, Iron Man Records, choose its artists and how does it promote them?’ is a significant topic in the industry to investigate.  The independent label has not been explored in depth before, although academics have looked at similar areas of the music industry.  The study will look at how relationships are being built between a record label, the music industry and bands.  The study also looks at what steps are being taken to promote and market Iron Man Records music. Read more here: Click link for full article on Iron Man Records

Redefining the Music Industry - A public consultation on the future shape, needs, direction and ambitions of the music industry.

An urgent message from our man Peter Jenkinson: “UK Music has asked us to alert key operators in our network to a consultation paper preparing on the future shape, needs, direction and ambitions of the music industry.”

You can submit your thoughts and  response directly to feedback at ukmusic.org

They are closing responses by the 15th September 2009; if you need any further information go to www.ukmusic.org/consultation

Redefining the Music Industry
A public consultation on the future shape, needs, direction
and ambitions of the music industry.

Closing date for responses: 15th September 2009

About UK Music

Established in October 2008, UK Music is the umbrella body that represents the collective interest of the UK’s commercial music industry: from artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, to record labels, music managers, music publishers, collecting societies and studio producers.

Our member organisations are: the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA), BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, the Music Managers Forum (MMF),
the Music Publishers Association Limited (MPA), the Musicians Union (MU), PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) and PRS for Music.

UK Music exists to understand, explain, promote, protect and nurture the UK’s commercial music sector so that its inherent value grows and its positive knock-on effects reverberate ever further and ever deeper. UK Music, through its wide membership, has access to the very best of the talent, creativity, insight and experience of those who together make up the
commercial music sector.

Drawing on such a rich resource, UK Music is the industry unit for:

Public policy and lobbying
External awareness and public opinion
Research and analysis
Industry-relevant education and skills

For more information see www.ukmusic.org

Overview

As we all know, the music industry has been dramatically re-shaped over the past ten years. In equal measures, this has proved disruptive, challenging and exciting. It will continue to be so.

However, within a fast-changing, ever-evolving commercial market, we believe it is vital that our entire industry can pull together; that we can identify and overcome internal and external challenges, plan, strategise, set
policy and forge ahead.

UK Music is currently working on a detailed report - to be published in late October - that will seek to do just this.

In order to take into account the widest spectrum of opinion, UK Music has announced an open, industry-wide consultation that will inform this report.

Consultation Summary

Specifically, we are asking all those working within, or affected by, the music industry, to contribute their thoughts to a vision of where our commercial sector should be heading over the next 5-10 years, the challenges we need to overcome, and the changes and policies that could positively impact on both individuals and businesses.

The UK is home to the world’s most amazing musical heritage. More importantly, on the world stage we continue to punch way above our weight in terms of musical creativity, innovation and commercial success.

To ensure this remains the case, we need your help and input.

To begin with, we would ask you to respond to the following five questions:

1. What are the key challenges to growth in your particular sector? Where are the greatest opportunities for growth? What policies do you think our industry should be collectively developing to address and support these aspects, and why? Is there any role for Government to help in these areas? If so, how?

2. How can our sector offer better opportunities for young people that wish to engage with our sector? How can we best support those at the grassroots level? Can our industry create better entry avenues for those people aspiring to work within our industry and develop a career in the music business?

3. Is there a skills shortage in your sector? If so, what sort of workforce development or training would best benefit your needs? What should our industry be doing to promote further workplace equality in and throughout the sector?

4. What can industry partners – for instance, commercial radio and the BBC – do to help promote new, diverse, local musical talent across all genres?

5. Are there any other significant issues you would like to draw our attention to? (All considerations offered are welcome.) 

Download the original PDF here: PDF : Redefining the Music Industry

proposals to extend copyright for sound recordings from 50 to 95 years

In case anyone thought performing artists were also the music business or part of it……Here’s an email from PPL

I just wanted to alert you to some good news in our campaign on copyright term. The Commission has this morning announced proposals to extend copyright for sound recordings from 50 to 95 years. Making the announcement, Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said he no longer wanted performing artists to be the poor cousins of the music business.

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A DIGITAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ACTION PLAN

Here’s a message from our friend Peter Jenkinson, some of you know him, some of you may have no idea who he is. During 2007, CIDS commissioned research into the creative industries in Greater Manchester. This was undertaken by Manchester Enterprises and included questionnaires and one to one consultations with a selection of companies. In September, CIDS hosted some consultation sessions to give feedback on the outcomes. Attached are the summaries. The Music Network would like to hear your comments and opinions. Some of the points identified may or may not be applicable to the Midlands region. Perhaps we could start some discussions?

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