Live Music Exchange Digest – w/c 24/09/2012
Welcome to our weekly digest of live music news and events in industry, academia and more.
This week’s blog post:
There’s a riot going on: Notes on Pussy Riot, music and politics
Adam Behr looks at some of the coverage of the Pussy Riot trial in the wider context of the questions it raises about music, politics and censorship. What are the dividing lines between musical and political statements? As the dust refuses to settle on this case, we examine some of the problems of the relationship between music and politics, and the need to maintain vigilance in the face of repression.
Live music and the live music industries in the news:
Anschutz Company To Sell AEG with reports that the venue operator could fetch $7billion as CEO assures stability, promising ‘we won’t miss a beat’.
O2 music sponsorship chief moves to Live Nation: Jasmine Skee, who led music sponsorship activity at O2 for three years, has joined Live Nation as UK Marketing Director.
BPI figures cite £2.2 million windfall from Olympics and related events.
O2 incident closes music venue: Greenwich Council has temporarily closed live music venue Proud2, at London’s O2, after a serious incident earlier this month.
Cafe Mambo brands Torquay wheelchair man a safety ‘hazard’: Nightclub refuses entry to music section on first floor to man in wheelchair on safety grounds.
Drapers Hall to become Coventry music centre: Plans announced to turn historic hall in Coventry, once used as an air raid shelter, into a music centre for the city.
Songs from the Shed venue in Clevedon ‘faces closure’: Shed which has hosted over 400 acoustic acts, including Fairport Convention and Paul Heaton, struggling financially.
Lichfield Cathedral gets girl choristers for the first time in its 800-year history.
The bad year for UK festivals continues as the first ‘One Of These Days’ festival, a multi-festival event with different festival curating spaces, is cancelled, organisers citing financial difficulties; the Swanage Blues Festival is also facing an uncertain future.
Cumbria festival brain injury charges denied: Organisers of the Kendal Calling music festival have pleaded not guilty over an incident in which a crane driver was severely injured in Cumbria.
Dumfries Youth Beatz: Organisers of the Youth Beatz Music Festival in Dumfries say concerns raised about incidents of alcohol-fuelled disorder will be taken on board as part of a full review of this year’s event.
All Tomorrow’s Parties festival to return to Camber Sands in 2013, despite the voluntary liquidation of its parent company over the summer.
Iron Maiden and Rammstein confirmed as headliners for Download 2013 as heavy rock pioneers Led Zeppelin release DVD of their tribute show to Ahmet Ertugun but evade questions about the possibility of further reunions.
Changes at the BBC as new Director General George Entwistle promises to ‘put programme makers first’, alongside plans for a restructure of the music division and the appointment of Jason Carter as BBC Radio’s new Head of Popular Music, Live Music & Events.
Staff at DCMS warned of job cuts.
Culture sheltered from major cuts in Scottish budget as Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, Andrew Dixon, defends financial plans to Scottish Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee in the face of negative coverage and unrest in the arts sector.
Royal Opera House offers expertise to smaller companies: The Royal Opera House has announced it will work with three regional companies as part of its new programme that connects opera and dance organisations with the ROH.
Incorporated Society of Musicians condemns GCSE reform proposal.
Academy of Contemporary Music announces first school franchise.
Amanda Palmer to pay guest musicians after all: Fan funded artist faced sustained criticism from musicians and media after asking local musicians in stops on her tour to join her on stage for free.
Yoko One awards Lennon-Ono Peace Prize to Pussy Riot, as priest who supported the protesters is to be defrocked by Russian Orthodox Church.
Music still central to debate over Northern Ireland parades as Ulster Covenant parade to ‘play hymns at Church’ and parties meet with Parades Commission.
Gangnam Style dance-off escalates into gang shootout in Bangkok.
Maldives ban on dancing in public rejected by government.
New trade body for Event Cinema: Event Cinema Association set up in response to the growing market for cinemas offering filmed live events to audience.
Association of British Orchestras and Musicians’ Union take the debate over musical instruments on planes to Brussels, meeting with the European Commission’s Department for Transport to discuss legislative opportunities that would enshrine the right of musicians to travel with their instrument in the aircraft cabin.
The Drifters devastated by minibus thefts in Nottingham: thousands of pounds worth of equipment stolen from US group’s bus.
And finally: Gustav Holst’s trombone to be played at Cheltenham concert to mark the anniversary of his birth.
Dam Busters composer – new songs to be performed: Songs composed by the creator of The Dam Busters theme tune Eric Coates are to be heard for the first time next month in the town of his birth.
Selected comment and features:
You’ll Never Walk Alone – from terrace anthem to touching tribute: As song re-enters the charts in the wake of Hillsborough report, Sachin Nakrani looks at its journey from musical number to chart hit to terrace song and back again.
Why we must fight to keep jazz alive: Trumpeter and writer Digby Fairweather says it’s time to fight for jazz.
Arts funding – we are stronger together: Matt Burman suggests that we should talk about emotional impact and quality of life when making the argument for arts funding.
5-Year Plans, Last-Minute Changes: Zachary Woolfe in The New York Times looks at the 5 year planning cycle for opera.
Live Music Exchange Events:
Live Music Exchange, Cardiff
Saturday 10th November 2012
ATRiuM, University of Glamorgan, Cardiff
A conference with a difference, the Live Music Exchange gathers together leading academics with people working directly (and indirectly) with live music, to exchange ideas about how to encourage and assist a vibrant and sustainable live music ecology.
Panels on: Live music policy, skills & training and more.
Round-table discussions.
Panellists include: Huw Williams (founder Welsh Music Foundations), Arts Council Wales, John Rostron (Swn Festival), and many more.
Full programme to be confirmed Please get in touch with contact@livemusicexchange.org for further details.
Other Live Music-related Events:
Arts Marketing Association Network Meeting – Nottingham: Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Tuesday 25th September, 6.45pm
Band Aid – The MU Presents an MOT for your Band: Brighton Komedia, 44-47 Gardner Street. Thursday 27th September 11am – 3pm
A workshop giving your band the full MU MOT. We will look at who owns your name, who owns your equipment, contracts, copyright, and songsharing. Steven Fisher from Northrop McNaughtan Deller Solicitors will be on hand to talk you through the legal minefield that is partnerships in Bands.
The second part of the day sees Paul Checkley from The Musicians’ Hearing Service on Harley street joining us for an interesting and informative chat about the importance of your hearing in your career, giving you details on what you can do to protect your most important asset.
The event is free to MU members or anyone attending as a guest of an MU member. Otherwise we ask for £5 on the door.
Federation of Entertainment Unions: You’re Hired – How to present yourself more effectively to get that next job: Musicians’ Union, 60-62 Clapham Road, SW9 0JJ, Friday 28th September.
UK National Drum Fair 2012: Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September
This year will be the 10th Anniversary and to celebrate there is a very special programme of events which includes 50+ stalls of custom and vintage drums, cymbals and accessories with displays from the NDF own Vintage Vault. On the Saturday at 1pm there will also be a lunchtime concert presented by the Fat Chops Big Band with guest drummers Pete Cater, Neil Bullock, Malcolm Garrett, Sticky Wicket and Garry Allcock.
On the Sunday, from 12pm, there will be performances from the winner of this year’s ‘Young Drummer of the Year’, Calum Blair and finalist Charlie Vasiliou.
Live UK Summit: Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, Portman Square, London. Tuesday 9th – Wednesday 10th October 2012.
Love Me Do: The Beatles at 50 – An Interdisciplinary Conference: The School of Political, Social and Geographical Sciences at Loughborough University, UK. Friday 5th October 2012
PoP Moves Conference: Blast from the Past: Histories and Memories in Popular Performance: University of Chichester, UK, Saturday 13th October 2012.
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