UK Music

UK Music is a British umbrella organisation which represents the collective interests of the production side of UK's commercial music industry: artists, musicians, songwriters, composers, record labels, artist managers, music publishers, studio producers and music collecting societies.

For music of the United Kingdom, see Music of the United Kingdom.
UK Music
Formation26 September 2008
Legal statusAssociation
PurposeIndustry representation
HeadquartersSavoy Hill House, London WC2R 0BU
Region served
United Kingdom
Chairman
Tom Watson
CEO
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin
Staff
10
Websiteukmusic.org

History

Launched on 26 September 2008,[1] Feargal Sharkey, former member of The Undertones, became chief executive officer (CEO) and Andy Heath, former chairman of British Music Rights, became chairman.

Sharkey left the organisation in November 2011, with Jo Dipple taking over as acting CEO. UK Music confirmed on 27 January 2012 the appointment of Dipple as the next CEO.[2]

In January 2017, the organisation announced that Dipple would stand down as its CEO in June 2017.[3] In April 2017, former Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) and Shadow Cabinet member Michael Dugher was announced as Dipple's replacement. Dugher took over as CEO of UK Music in May 2017.

In December 2019 Michael Dugher announced he would stepping down as CEO. Deputy CEO Tom Kiehl took over as acting CEO in February 2020. Former Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson took over as chair, replacing Andy Heath, in April 2020. Jamie Njoku-Goodwin took over as CEO of UK Music in October 2020.

Form 696

In November 2008, the magazine Music Week reported that Sharkey had written to Sir Ian Blair, then head of the Metropolitan Police Service, and Information Commissioner Richard Thomas "to clarify the 'use and purpose' of form 696, which asks for personal details on artists and musicians performing at gigs and the style of music they will be playing." In his letter, Sharkey wrote:

"...the collection of this personal Data by the Met Police in advance of a musical performance is not light touch. In explicitly singling out performances and musical styles favoured by the black community: garage and R&B, and MCs and DJs, we believe the use of risk assessment form 696 is disproportionate, unacceptable and damaging to live music in the UK."[4]

Sound Rights

In December 2008, UK Music launched Sound Rights, a free online resource for teachers and schools to support music study in schools. This was aimed at supporting the study of "the role of music and musicians in society, the music industry and of artistic and intellectual property rights.”[5] In an interview with ISP Review in January 2009, UK Music Press Officer Adam Webb outlined the organisation's plans for tackling the problems of illegal file sharing over the internet and building working relationships with Internet Service Providers.[6]

Love Music

In August 2018 UK Music and its members launched the #LoveMusic campaign, which sought to publicise the positive impact the European Parliament Digital Single Market copyright directive would have on music creators, ahead of the vote on 12 September 2018. The campaign's logo featured a butterfly created from a treble clef to symbolise the fragile ecosystem of the music industry, emphasising how creators needed protection or the world of music and music fans would suffer. The campaign urged people to sign a petition to be sent to Members of the European Parliament. It also aimed to inform the public about how tech giants like Google and YouTube benefited from outdated copyright laws.

On 6 September 2018 UK Music pulled together key industry figures and music creators outside Google's offices in London to highlight the campaign with a busking stunt that received national media coverage. Suede frontman Brett Anderson, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, Newton Faulkner and Ed Harcourt performed live as part of the campaign. MPs who joined the event in Kings Cross included Deputy Labour Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Tom Watson, shadow culture minister Kevin Brennan, Liberal Democrat peer and digital economy spokesman Timothy Clement-Jones, and Conservative Nigel Evans. Madeleina Kay performed her song "Stand Up For Your (Copy)Rights" outside the tech giant's building, before a chorus of artists, led by Misty Miller and arranged by The Ivors Academy chair Crispin Hunt, performed Arcade Fire's song "Wake Up".

In further support, UK Music CEO Michael Dugher wrote a piece for Record of The Day outlining UK Music's stance on the Copyright Directive, writing "When it comes to protecting the future of our music industry and finally start ensuring that the creators of music content get fair rewards, I hope MEPs will vote to finally 'Make Google Do It'".

On the day of the vote, UK Music's chairman Andy Heath also supported the campaign with a statement on the UK Music website.

UK Music celebrated the directive being approved on 26 March 2019 and confirmed by the Council of the European Union on 15 April 2019.

References
  1. "UK Music birth". UK Music. September 26, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  2. Lester, Ahren (27 January 2012). "UK Music confirms Jo Dipple as new Chief Executive". Audio Pro International. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  3. "UK Music chief executive Jo Dipple to stand down" (Press release). UK Music. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  4. Ashton, Robert (18 November 2008). "Sharkey warns police action is "disproportionate"". Music Week. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  5. "News Item". The Association of Independent Music. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  6. Jackson, Mark. "UK Music - Illegal File Sharing Interview". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
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