Andy Burnham, Kate Nash and Feargal Sharkey in conversation

Andrew | 22 Mar 2009, 10:11

Guest blog: Feargal Sharkey, CEO of UK Music, who represent the UK’s commercial music industry

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Creators must be heard to make a difference

I recently chaired a conversation between Secretary of State Andy Burnham and the musician Kate Nash, who was representing the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC). You can download a podcast or transcript of the conversation from this page.

Writing as a former artist, I know as well as anyone that creators’ voices have often been conspicuous by their absence in music industry debates.

Clearly this is not right. The past decade has seen huge upheaval in how the music industry operates; but without creative talent, there simply is no industry.

It was for this reason that one of UK Music’s first initiatives was to announce the world’s first Creators’ Conference – with the idea of bringing together a diverse range of around 100 UK artists, songwriters, composers and musicians, and allowing them a private, free and direct dialogue with both Andy and the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Charlie McCreevy.

Two months later, the event took place on 11 December 2008 in Central London.

Music-makers expressed their opinions on anything from file-sharing and copyright to Top Of The Pops; while Andy and Charlie had an opportunity to explain how creativity is now a key driver of the UK and European economies, and how politicians’ actions can make a real difference to those who make a living through music.

As a first step, I think the Creators’ Conference was an incredible success.

Indeed, fast-forward three months, and, in addition to songwriter/composer and musician representative bodies (BASCA, and the Musicians’ Union) in the shape of the Featured Artists Coalition there is now an organisation established specifically to provide a voice for contracted artists

As a member of FAC’s steering group, Kate, along with the likes of Billy Bragg, Dave Rowntree and Ed O’Brien has been a key figure in the new organisation’s creation, and this podcast builds on a conversation first initiated with Andy back in December.

I think it is vital, welcome and overdue dialogue. And one that UK Music will do all it can to facilitate and develop in the months and years ahead.