Liverpool City Region Music Board Launch Audio Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to this launch of the Liverpool City Region Music Board I'm Michalle Eakin, I'm the chair of the new board that we're launching today Very Planets to be so and I'm also my day job as chief executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic I have to pinch myself almost on a daily basis to understand that I'm heading up an organisation that had a profound effect on me as a teenager my very 1st visit to Philharmonic Hall was to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Performing Holst's climax which is a huge big piece and it just blew me away to see and feel And hear the kind of visceral power of a full scale Symphony Orchestra in our City

Performing a great piece of music like that, not that long after, it was my second time At the Phil. Not long after I went to the now legend gig written by a Deaf School, in the mid 70's and again very different kind of music very different kind of performance. But absolutely extraordinary, and I can remember both of those performances like there were yesterday and when I look back on them I realized that they They indicate ummm a both a breadth Of musical creativity that we have in this City

That we have been and we have now But also the power of music To transform and change lives which Those concerts and other things I saw

As a teenager certainly did for me. We all in this room know the power of music has on all of us as individuals and as a collective audience as a collective listeners. But, as well as that very personal Impact, the music sector, is also hugely important for this City economically In terms of the social fabric and cohesion Of Liverpool in the City Region And it's really further Without power and that possession Of the music sector and the music industry here That this board

Has been created I just want to acknowledge some of the things that happened to get us to this point. When I look back over the last several years 1 of the 1st times when a number of us from across different parts of the music industry in the City came together With Liverpool City Council with the involvement the support of both John Anderson and Wendy Simon at the time. We developed what turned out to be a successful bid for Liverpool to become

the 1st and still the only English UNESCO's City of music. And I think that process has indicated the way we as a sector could work together. Since then there've been a number of key pieces of work

and report So report by the Institute for Cultural Capital Form Mayor Anderson, on the importance of the Beatles And the Beatles industry To the City's economy and how we continue to further that There was a report brought together by Peter Leto And Liverpool John Paul's University that, really, took the voices of the sector itself in terms of what was needed in the City There was another report from our Anderson by Bock Consulting looking to develop a music strategy for the City And there was a report by UK music for

Rotherham which really set out the the economic importance of this sector for the Liverpool City Region Now what all those reports and pieces of work did were 2 things I think 1 they provided Real hard data that made the case very persuasively. For the economic power and the breadth And reach Of the music industry in this City Region.

Better than any of us just saying it could ever do. And secondly they all looked in different ways what we need to do to capitalize on that strength still further to take a longer term strategic view really about how we grow this industry in our City. I want to acknowledge both Mayor Anderson and Mayor Rotherem. You'll hear from them both in a moment; their Political commitment, to this sector, is profoundly important It's been very strong for many years I'm really grateful

to them for that as I think we all should be. The challenge for us now is to build on that work and to address practically those things that will help the sector fulfil its potential for the City and City Region Looking at areas like Education music education and skills and talent development in the City how do we make that better Looking at Making sure we've got a really robust and resilient and growing network of venues and we all know the Real challenge is there the venues

rehearsal facility studios and so on Making sure that Music is really positioned as part of the tourism offer for this City. We are marketing myself as effectively as a music City Making sure That we truly capitalize. I think we've made great strides in this but it's still a long way to go Around the extraordinary legacy of the Beatles And what that offers us both in terms of economic impact and actually also in continuing to support the growing of the music sector today Making sure that the sector

Truly reflects In an inclusive way The diversity Of this City and its communities and is accessible To all and the whole talent Is able to really be developed I'm fundamentally making sure that we are truly growing and contributing to the continuing Economic strength Of Liverpool and the City Region Now this board come to All of us on its own but what it can do is be a point

At which we come together We discuss those areas and we start to map out strategies we're taking Forward We've just come from a meeting where we've been talking about areas that are looking to create Some Very action focused subgroups, looking at those themes I'm drawing on people from outside the board, to get their views as well and we want over the next couple of months to really think about the agenda for us and then bring that to a wider sector wide meeting later this spring Which we can

Have some more discussion And take them for I think it is very important to say, that, the board is a group of people from the sector But it's important, we engage the sector as a whole In terms of Group of people is we will make that noted, but I'll just go through the names now because I imagine most people in the room will know at least 1 of us So a key message that we all know Is If there's anything that's on your mind in terms of how we take the music industry forward problems or facing opportunities that there are

Things that we need to be saying to the wider world Then you can speak to anyone So there is me Becky Anderson of sound City Matthew Fleming from the University of Liverpool Paul Gallagher from National Museum Liverpool. Cath Hurley from Mostdeffo. Steve Lilly an independent music producer and a trustee musician Adam McKinnon and accessibility and Inclusion advocate Alok Nayak, from MILAPFEST. Yaw Owusu, from Culture Liverpool and the Playmaker Group. Craig Pennington from Vito Leto.

Barbara Phillips an artist manager of Positive Impact Catherine Tackley head of music at University of Liverpool Ian Thomas Chair The Liverpool Regional Music Education Alliance Anne Thwaite the Arabic Arts Festival. Ben Williams from the Arena and Convention Centre Jennifer John from sense of sound And Chris Meehan from Sentric. Those are the people who are on the board at this point Also around the table very importantly we have senior representatives from UK music From the musicians union Including from the Beatles legacy crew And representatives of Liverpool City Region

And Liverpool City Council So it's a mixed group Mix of Perspectives a very powerful group we've had a fantastic meeting this morning and I think there's huge Potential there Potential To Help join what can be a fragmented sector To argue the case for music To ensure that we truly live up to our billing as a UNESCO's City of music And in doing so play our part in ensuring Liverpool's long term economic What a way to handle

Herself in general Just found something else whilst each other the Both crap jobs And I've just been round the back their, trying to learn this new fill. And something wrong My foot and the rest of the body because It's too difficult I will master it Because of our love of music Both in myself and the Mayor of Liverpool, that we took, I think the rather brave decision To work together To ensure that we get this thing called Liverpool City Region Music Board.

And that's because of lots of things because obviously There's an economic imperative

To do this It's also to celebrate what we are renowned for across the rest of the world Because Music it is in

Our DNA It's Something that We can trace on musical roots back a Magical City that we Went along with

It tells us that we have to celebrate We have the river Mersey to thank for this to be in our life blood since 28 August 12 0 7 When King John gave us the status as a Town

And his Royal Charter And it's because it's not good that we got things like The rhythm and blues from America And the music from us that gave us amazing B's

But, I think we all agree we are not just famous for more 1 genre that we provided More UK Number ones than anywhere else in the country Which variety Of influences the styles of crust crafted a distinctive sound and spirit We are the UNESCO will City of pop Music And in fact to this day our music heritage continues to provide the basis for the formation of new And exciting relationships So I met a guy Who was the Mayor of Lurville. So it's not Lillyville He never got to speak to causes, he is a big lad

He might take offense to it Lurville I mean People might remember that black white photo of the Beatles with the great Muhammad Ali met his conscience wards in the morning Alina forward So we have a cultural exchange What happens was we sent 6 boxes both each of the Local Authority areas to Lurville. To go to The Champs boxing gym They experience all of that and make sense over a singer Who is known as the Addel of Lurville. Actually she's not as impressive as not she's

Really very good Colleague Johnson She played at in the Cavern And that's the beauty is that of what we can do with our, musical heritage And the very fact that that opened the doors for us and Will Eventually I believe Open up much more than just the cultural exchange.

But some Hopeful Investments in the City Region But music is a big business for as Michael just alluded to it It's hoped that with direct spending, by music tourists in the City Region Since 2016, was 135 million pounds on the total loud music audience in 2016

Is almost 1 million people in the City Region Well to this is focused on that goal and quite rightly this is the heart of our cultural scene. We've seen growth in The music sectors in The Boroughs Particularly in St Helens in our Borough of Culture For this coming year which is the Wirral But their are Huge challenges that we need to Embrace and take on To move forward from a lack

Of inward investment to displacements and existing businesses within the music industry And as with all the industries Loss Of new young talent to London And that's why I'm absolutely Delighted I'm sure you will be that we've brought together such a diverse panel of experts who sits on our Music Board I've spoken to another Fellow MP termed Mayor, Sadiq Khan about the impact that doing this had

On London And He quite rightly is proud of our nation's political capital

I've told him that we'll see equal success replicated here in our nation nation's cultural capital So we've identified 5 priorities and they are so important so just to touch on a couple of them Developed

The Beatles legacy Joe has long Believed on own capitalize and maximize the opportunity this presents to us We are not talking so much just squeeze in talent sample more of the Beatles or talk about real ambition. And building A legacy for the benefit of the whole City music for generations to come Also about engaging and developing new talent our rich music Heritage Reaches far beyond the Beatles and That isn't really a genera of music that from our statistics that we have had some impact In the Wider

Country So from ????? From the fall of the longest cold suits on the top of biscuit Lady John Ellis his fellow deaf School The real thing Dead or alive, blue, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen The Lightning Seads, Jemma Martin, Cilla Black This is a great performance but Not forgetting the fantastic Philharmonic Orchestra

Also We've got bands now Study Dugun. Lapsley and of course Luna You can see

Anything on stage later Continue to represent the City Region with distinction For this group of UK music show that 17 percent Of music creators were Educated Fee paying Schools Compared to just 7 percent across the population as a whole And this is what we want to challenge We want people from middle class community Working Class kids To really get the opportunity To reach their full potential in the music industry And while 50 percent Of children at independent Schools receive sustained

music tuition, the figure for state Schools stands at just 15 percent Couple years the likes of Jenny Corbin to a School Faith Primary in Everton Where He soiling kids And maybe using music into Musical instruments to engage in the wider curriculum And

Their Stats Do you think that the measures for education and all sorts of things Have improved exponentially Genuine and put that into the Labour Party manifesto As a direct result of that We are committed To ensuring that every child will get access to music instruments And I think that will be fantastic for their cultural wellbeing But also that we can improve their Educational attainment And that's really What we

Need to do, to use the assets we have The fantastic diversity of our City Region. To really push forward And make these gains and we need to catch up to the rest Of

The country So In conclusion I'd like to once again welcome The board members to their positions and we stand on the very best looking in their efforts to safeguard and grow a vital part of our culture And...

Today as it is A stage set for me Just developing agreed to With you With people up of It In this particular sector I've always been A huge fan Of support and of course share And support Use This Often And the reason why I say that is because it's important to Emphasise That It's Uniquely important to this City because it's probably 1 of our Strongest USD in terms of what means to School because the kids whose own music

Editors Along with many other things and the many other challenges and things that we have to do The talents and art history of news if you want me aspire to do It Your people have aspired to do follow along from some of the greats In this City is going to be Always

There It's always good to be In the heart and the heart beats Of Liverpool And the way that we do And so You know when we look at the things that we've done every Single year as we've protected the support of culture the music and the arts and the things that we've done whether it's working with The Philharmonic and helping them Secure The Building by providing the Performance Space as well as support my faces and Making sure they Knew every moment and all of the things that we go by that it's a

Lot of Events Fuse To The facts Again The last 2 this year Live Sound City all of the things that that Get told to be Every single year brings in A C right mix of stone A huge economic impacts of all City whether it's David or You now That facilities or restaurants or bars or public transport It's It's It's important Not just to 2 weeks economically But it's the heart and soul of who we are and what makes us who

And how we got to where we are Steve Stone You know sea shanties and stuff and Lennon Told very famously about cute Young snowflakes and they way the time to bring your country Skiffle And things back To the City ironically With the You know we just fell in In which we have end This as opposed to known as famous Building where The transatlantic and

Line is used to save them from So it It's important As well that the places music Experiences Basically That's why we thought it was great To have them All of is about what we do Well How we Look at Doing More of the same In terms of what we do well But also looking at how we Work With each other that's a compliment What we do is spread The message about music And about the inspirational Young people that we have

In our City in City Region Across the globe It's not just Here in Liverpool or the UK It's across the globe Because we got a famous brand And part of the reasons why we are this brand is because Of the Artists We talk about the Economic impact It's also about being able to see it's all about me It's a global demonstrate that Kevin Harness is going to see The index And see Things for As well as being on the ball

It's great that we Would take it to be called start up commission that would explode and nothing on that But it's ups happening subtleties About building on Now Today And Tomorrow And that's important to me look. You know I also want to see make sure that all of you people in this City from whatever age have the ability and the opportunity to develop their musical talents And not something that you know my ambition is to make sure that Probably before I take it I want to see

A famous to Liverpool look At that In terms of because Grace's liquid is it does a wonderful job and it's not knowing if it Was better but I want The opportunity for working class kids from TV to To attend and go to A School that develops their talents and their ability And that's the type of thing you got to do with the ball There's look at Strategy is about How will we improve and how we do things not just from A business sense

In terms of making laws like the assets we have to generate more income to make sure that we grow The businesses off But Also about how we actually engage with young people our Schools and Steve right and the Centre on Education Or Outside of that were fair to Schools to fill And listen To inspiring people As if with a passion To engage in music can take this City For The talent that we know Is out there in this City alone actually Saying listen

To famous words of 1 day race day which should expect me to say anyway I don't believe there was any the Or anything that we need to Ask that talent In just As we do here Young people here in the City of Let's exploit it Let's Deliberate Let's move on Because we've got more than our goods We've got to look At the future and we've got to Inspire and give our young people hope For the future And that's what this does

Music Gives for Music gifts joy And love And inspiration to people And that's what we've got to develop So it's great to see it all Here It's big for everybody who's joining the And we love It Good song about how we're progressing I think there should be some great things that come out of this stuff Delighted That we've put together Such an excitement team For 1 of the board members responsible to deliver On what the Region needs

And to their personal perspective I want to show A clean bill from its reputation As a way of making City Music The local as well They do the City Music His voice Inspires us to create sound City in 2008 When the number of places you reach is the banks He wants to hold a celebration In a bowl As a global musical powerhouse More importantly he wants to create Mean instead of a bull As music City in the future and to offer a platform

The best in contemporary music Not just Northern England, but from all over the world. He wants to champion exciting musicians and people with entrepreneurial Driving ambition to show That they can develop their craft And Living from their art to live Without him to move to London or in fact any other City Since 2008 as Well as a place to live and work To create music has developed and ready To Direct interventions With Patients on the City of London Scotland We have seen companies like centric grow from Duke University project

To the world leading publishing company with offices staffs In Liverpool and across 4 continents Similarly discerning from humble beginnings has grown into a worldwide distribution company Who actually relocated their businesses Coming in After attending substitute In 2011 The revenue decline is Played back into consumer constellations and Handstands On 24 action Street Band and the customer into An invisible with the packaging And not forgetting the lifetime work Of time about Clement And the Zanzibar Also established fusion will be different this time

Peter Beattie And Which continued to slide into support for their City Of course there are many many more Examples from all the parameters of the music business But a span of just a few meaty examples where the field So silent They will deal With our Chinese partners More than scoffing We have no set up most stable time in a short space of time We have cemented our position of the leading Independent backwater publishing company in the North Whose main aim is to Develop a career and

Artists Of artists from the North Pawlenty announced Thursday 2 months where you fish at a huge international successful party such as the Australian jazz club, The blind, spend on Tuesday found and Ramping up To name just a few by credit Mr Talent There's not a backstop to forget The countless sources who are reporting the City Region With their undisputed talent and passion continue to manage such as the wombats The night accompanying surf waves Unveiling Stealing sheep Susie 1st sighting crazy in hundreds and hundreds more

This is all a testament to the continued creativity And ensures ambition And inspiration that is a local music scene with Liverpool And the wider Region There is still a lot of work to be done To enable more artists to flourish Music entrepreneurs companies and Individuals To thrive in the City Region That they are so passionate about and that they choose to live In The Music Board is voting with an important movement To safeguard the protection of music venues Increasing access to music education

And supporting the development talents Of all very key areas to focus on And invest in fact action We have a lot to achieve and importantly we have to be held accountable As representatives of music across the City And the Region It's key that as a board that we have for be The artists the media producers Entrepreneurs companies and Individuals and fans Waiting to hear what he wants and information that we deliver on this Announced Asked today We look forward to hearing from you

Working together to truly make Liverpool A world beating Music City