Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Bring Me The Horizon, Def Leppard, Heaven 17, Human League, Toddla T, Kate Rusby, Lesley Garrett, Barnsley Youth Choir, Tony Christie… the list of Sheffield City Region’s music stars is inspiring and impressive.
And now Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region (SCR), has announced a scheme, in partnership with UK Music, to help bring together artists, venues, music businesses and festival organisers to work together to help shape and grow the region’s music industry.
The new SCR Music Board will aim to harness the talent and ambition of all those who are passionate about music, from primary school-aged children right up to established musicians.
Mayor Jarvis said: “Our region is blessed with musical talent, with great venues large and small, and with a host of leading production and technology based businesses.
“But I know that there is more we could do to ensure we promote these strengths nationally and internationally, creating a stronger culture of creativity and talent development and growing the creative industries’ contribution to our economy.
“With this in mind I am partnering with UK Music to establish a Music Board for our region. Taking its inspiration from similar initiatives in London, Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region. The board will include public, private and the third sector representatives.
“We will aim high – projecting our region’s huge musical potential onto the national stage, helping to grow our economy and creating new opportunities for our talent to shine.”
The SCR Music Board will be made up of public and private sector representatives including the Mayor, music hub leads, one of our regions MPs, ward councillors and representatives from festivals such as Tramlines and Sensoria. Michael Dugher, CEO of UK Music, and Tom Kiehl, director of government and public affairs at UK Music, will act in an advisory capacity.
The board’s remit will explore how people across the region, including musicians, venues, training organisations, local authorities and politicians, can work together to champion talent and use these strengths to grow the region’s cultural economy. Its Chair will be announced at the first meeting.
Mr Dugher said: “The Sheffield City Region has produced some exceptional talent which has brought enjoyment to millions of music fans across the world.
“As patron of what was the ‘Live in Barnsley’ festival, I know just how much talent is out there. I remember going to gigs in Doncaster and even sneaking into the Leadmill as a teenager.
“We need to nurture our talent pipeline for the future and safeguard our fantastic venues to keep producing world-beaters in every part of our vibrant and diverse music industry. We want to provide more and better opportunities across the region so that every young person from every background has access to music and can try a career in music.
“Dan Jarvis is a passionate champion of our creative industries and has shown real leadership in setting up what will be the first meeting of a Music Board outside of London. It has been a great success in London. It’s time other parts of the country had the same.”
Established in 2008, UK Music is an industry-funded body that aims to represent the recorded, published and live arms of the British music industry. It promotes the interests of record labels, musicians, composers, managers, producers, promoters, venues and more.
Members of the Sheffield City Region Music Board are set to include David Benbow, Music Hub Lead at Barnsley Council; Alex Francis, Barnsley Music Hub lead officer; Paul Davies, Doncaster Music Services and hub manager; Louise Haigh MP; Barry Whittaker-Gilbey of Hodo Music; Frank Wilkes, director of DMF Digital/Alya Records; Matt Wanstall, regional organiser for the Musicians Union; Paul Littlewood and Steve Mundin of Higher Rhythm Ltd; Timm Cleasby from Tramlines; Martin Cropper, music director at Sheffield Music Academy; Ian Naylor, head of Music Education at Sheffield Music Hub; Sonia Mellor, strategic lead for Music Hub Rotherham; Daniel Jones of PRS for Music; Mat Wright, Musical Director at Barnsley Youth Choir; Polly Hamilton, assistant director of culture, sports and tourism at Rotherham Council; Dominic Stokes, head of SIV Live; Chris Strong, head of skills and enterprise at IVE; Jo Wingate of Sensoria Festival, and ward councillors from across the city region.
The first meeting of the SCR Music Board takes place on Friday 2 November at the Fly DSA Arena in Sheffield.
