Kili rock on

Kilimanjaro Live is to present a new two-day classic rock festival at The O2 from June 18-19 next year in association with Classic Rock and Prog magazines. Stone Free Festival will be headlined by Alice Cooper and Rick Wakeman, who will perform his The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table album for the first time since 1975. Other artists will include Marillion, Steve Hackett and Blackberry Smoke. The festival will also include cinema screenings, a vinyl fair, specialist market stalls and classic album playbacks.

We remember those who died in Paris

PARIS, 13th November 2015

Nick Alexander, the Eagles of Death Metal's Merchandising Manager, has been killed in the Paris terror attacks at the Bataclan. His family said: "It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night. Nick was not just our brother, son and uncle; he was everyone's best friend – generous, funny and fiercely loyal" adding "Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world. Thank you for your thoughts and respect for our family at this difficult time. Peace and light." Africa Express' Robin Aitken posted "Nick had worked with us on Africa Express. I remember a friendly, helpful guy who added his bit of joy to our musical events. I can only begin to imagine the tragedy that his family and close friends must be going through, and I just feel sad for his life being cut short by people who have so badly misunderstood the way to build a better world". Nick's girlfriend of three years, Polina Buckley, distraught and mourning in New York, said on her Facebook  "Three years ago on this day I met you on the corner of East 15th and Irving Pl. I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on you. This was the most loving, passionate and eventful relationship I’ve ever experienced. You were my everything. My lover, my best friend, my soulmate. I am completely crushed and heartbroken right now. I will miss you terribly. Sleep tight, my sweet prince. I will always love you, Nick Alexander."

We also remember

Nathalie Jardin, who ran the house lighting at Le Bataclan and known by her nickname "Natalight"

Thomas Ayad, 34. International Product Manager for Mercury Records France 

Guillaume B. Decherf, 43. Journalist for celebrated French music and culture magazine, Les Inrockuptibles 

Marie Mosser, 24. Digital Marketing executive at Mercury Records France 


Manu Perez. Music industry marketing executive who worked at Universal Music France for over a decade 


UMG boss Pascal Negre tweeted on Saturday (November 14) that "The Universal Music family is in mourning".


These images of the show before the terrorist attack are by Manu Wino who said ""Because life goes on. Because they cannot win. Because it is awful and because no one can get back to it's normal life. Because too many friends (know or unknown) died Friday evening. Because it's only Rock & Roll..."

Music community in shock after terror attack in Paris

The International Artist Organisation has joined the many voices across the world in condemning the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. Music, sport and food represent freedoms of expression in some way and they are at the very heart of culture. The attacks last night were on a sport stadium, well known restaurants and a legendary music venue in Paris. 352 people were injured, 99 critically, in the attacks that left 129 dead.

The Bataclan has championed artists from all cultures across the globe from Lou Reed and Emmylou Harris to Prince, Oasis, Snoop Dogg and Bastille.

The Eagles of Death Metal were playing at the venue, and it has been confirmed the band's Merchandising Manager, Nick Alexander, was killed in the Paris attack

Venues such as the Bataclan have acted as a sort of global cultural exchange in the heart of France providing a crossroads at which people come together, learn from each other and leave understanding something new. In a world with increasing requirement for mutual understanding - perhaps more rather than fewer places like that are what we need.
Since the beginning of time, music has always been a message of happiness and celebration. Music continues to transport the word of peace in the hope of global harmony.

Tim Farriss of INXS gave the following statement from Sydney, Australia: “INXS, on behalf of all the artists who cherish humanity, the life and love of all our brothers and sisters from all reaches of the world express our deepest condolences to all those affected by these horrific attacks in Paris and condemn all acts of terrorism anywhere in the world. Like all artists that have a rich and joyous past of performing all over France, the Bataclan theatre in Paris, which we played as recently as 2011 holds a special place and our hearts go out to Jules Frutos and his colleagues at the Bataclan, all the French artistic community - and ALL the beautiful people of France. Vive La France.”

Our friend Robin Aiken from Africa Express posted this: "I'm posting this as a tribute to Nick Alexander who died in Paris on Friday. Nick had worked with us on Africa Express, a "thing" I help manage. I remember a friendly, helpful guy who added his bit of joy to our musical events. I can only begin to imagine the tragedy that his family and close friends must be going through, and I just feel sad for his life being cut short by people who have so badly misunderstood the way to build a better world."

At least 41 people have died and as many as 100 have been wounded in a suspected twin suicide attack claimed by Isis in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The explosions are believed to have taken place in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood Burj al-Barajneh, to the south of the city, a city official – speaking on condition of anonymity – told Associated Press.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eagles-of-death-metal-merch-manager-nick-alexander-killed-in-paris-attack-20151114

Streaming revenue now exceeds downloads at UMG

Parent company Vivendi's quarterly figures have revealed that streaming now provides a bigger share of revenues than digital downloads worldwide.  Digital income had already overtaken physical and licensing revenues combined at the world's largest record company. UMG revealed that its recorded music income in the first nine months of 2015 hit €2.75bn - up 12.3% year-on-year or 1.9% at constant currency/perimeter. Within that figure, digital income was up 5.9% (at constant currency/perimeter) to €1.38bn - equating to 50.1% of the total revenue pie - and streaming accounted for 51% of its digital income in the final three-month period. UMG isn't the first major to pass this milestone, though: streaming income overcame download at Warner Music Group back in Q2 this year.

T payment to be investigated

Audit Scotland - which exists to provide "independent assurance to the people of Scotland that public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively" - will investigate the £150,000 'grant' the Scottish government gave to T In The Park promoter DF Concerts - a Live Nation subsidiary - to help cover the costs of relocating the music festival's new site at the Strathallan Estate earlier this year.

The auditing body told The Scotsman: "Audit Scotland's work helps ensure the public can have trust and confidence about how public money is used. Given the public interest and correspondence we've received on this matter, we've decided to review the funding provided to T In The Park as part of the 2015/16 audit of the Scottish Government's consolidated accounts".

AGF team up with Manchester Metropolitan University for a sustainable events day

AGREENERFESIVAL have teamed up with Manchester Metropolitan University for a 'sold out' one day conference in Manchester on December 2nd for 200 final year event management students and invited industry guests . It's a packed day, and we are delighted to have the support of campsite waste campaigners Love Your Tent and food salvage experts 8th Plate as well as industry leaders from Powerful Thinking  and Firefly Solar to talk about sustainble power. On top of this we have leading experts from The Glastonbury Festival, Kendal Calling, The Hay Literary Festival and Shambala to talk about best practice and new ideas. The conference agenda looks like this:

09.25  Introduction & Welcome    Shaun Litler (MMU)

09.30   Andy Fryers, Hay Literary Festival: Juggling the Four Balls of Sustainability

10.15   Helen Innes, A Greener Festival:  Introducing Sustainability at Events

10.45 - 11.00am Comfort Break

11.00  Ben Challis, Glastonbury Festival / A Greener Festival: Events, The Environment and The Law

11.30  Questions with Andy Hay, Helen Innes and Ben Challis  (chaired by Shaun Litler)

12.00pm – 13.00pm Lunch

13.00   Rob Scully, Glastonbury Festival & Kendal Calling: Presentation: Glastonbury: Love the Farm, Leave No Trace & The Green Fields of Kendal Calling

13.30   Emma Dyer, 8th Plate, the food waste project: Food for Thought

13.45  Juliet Ross Kelly, Love Your Tent: The Solutions to Campsite Waste

14.00   Chris Johnson, Shambala Festival:  Powerful Thinking - the energy efficient, low carbon and cost effective future for festivals

14.15  Tim Benson, Firefly: Sustainable Power For Your Event

14.35 – 15.00 Break

15.00  Panel: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Tackling Waste at Events : Chaired by Shaun Litler with Chris Johnson (Shambala), Rob Scully (Glastonbury Festival), Emma Dyer (8th Plate), Juliet Ross Kelly (Love Your Tent) and Andy Fryers (Hay Literary Festival).

16.00 Closing remarks with Shaun Litler & Ben Challis

Many thanks to all of our friends for the making of what looks like being a very exciting and informative day!

Pandora ink deal with Sony/ATV

Pandora has agreed a landmark direct multi-year licensing deal with Sony/ATV in the US. The deal means that Pandora "has effectively bypassed the standard US compulsory licensing process – and its custodians, collection societies ASCAP and BMI – to gain access to Sony/ATV’s repertoire."

As a result, Sony/ATV says it has been able to negotiate improved rates for its 4 million copyrights directly, while Pandora says it will ‘benefit from a greater rate certainty and the ability to add new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time’. A similar direct agreement was reached by Pandora with BMG last year, while the independent labels recorded music body Merlin has also agreed a direct deal with the platform

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pandora-strikes-direct-us-licensing-deal-sonyatv/

AIF and MU play fair

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and Musicians’ Union (MU) have teamed up for the Fair Play for Festivals initiative.  The agreement will formalise the existing relationship between emerging artists and independent festivals represented by AIF. Details were unveiled in a session presented by the AIF’s Paul Reed and the MU’s Kelly Wood on the first day of the AIF’s annual flagship conference and celebration event - The Festival Congress - in Cardiff on November 5.  The deal aims to provide practical guidance for musicians and festivals.

UK music industry's numbers crunched in Measuring Music

The UK music business contributed a whopping £4.1bn to the British economy in 2014 – with the live music sector claiming almost a quarter of the spoils. UK Music’s third annual economic study, Measuring Music 2015, refers to the GVA (Gross Value Added) performance from all sectors of the business, including publishing, live and records. In 2013, the GVA of the UK business was £3.8bn, £300m behind 2014’s tally. In 2014, live music revenues were up by 17% year-on-year to £924m, almost exactly 50% bigger than the contribution from recorded music, which stood at £615m. Music publishers contributed £410m to the UK economy in 2014, but the biggest revenue generator was ‘musicians, composers songwriters and lyricists’, who racked up £1.9bn in total – three times the figure attributed to labels.

And the Measuring Music report also looks at investment - showing that publishers almost match record labels in A&R investment - although the labels spend almost the same again on marketing. Record labels spent £178m on A&R in 2014, but publishers spent £162m on writers in the year, and in terms of  ‘pure’ A&R investment, this was just £16m behind their peers in record companies. The labels spend on marketing was an additional £157 million.

Retail sales of recorded music will see little variation in total spending levels in the years to 2020 despite the rising interest in streaming, according to global analyst firm Ovum’s latest forecasts. Spending on digital formats and services will overtake physical formats this year and go on to account for almost three-quarters of all sales in just six years.

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/labels-generated-50-less-money-than-live-for-uk-economy-last-year/

https://musicandcopyright.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/record-companies-the-biggest-winners-in-forecast-consumer-shift-from-ownership-to-access/

The Festival Congress Awards - winners 2015

And the winners of the FESTIVAL CONGRESS AWARDS announced last night in Cardiff are .......

New Festival on the Block – Camp Wildfire

Unique Festival Arena – The Hidden Hedge at Blissfields

Live Act of the Year – Slaves

Mind Blowing Spectacle – Boomtown’s Palace at Boomtown Fair

Best Smart Marketing – Boomtown Fair’s Spoof videos

Festival Journalist of the year- Simon Godley (God Is In The TV)

Innovative use of Technology – Shambala's bitcoin payments

Unsung hero – Chris Tofu from Continental Drifts/Global Local

MOBO Awards 2015 - the winners

The MOBO Awards 2015 winners list runs like this:

Best Male - Stormzy 

Best Female -Ella Eyre

Best Album - Krept & Konan - 'The Long Way Home' 

Best Song - Skepta - 'Shutdown' 

Best Video - FKA Twigs - 'Pendulum' 

Best Newcomer - Section Boyz 

Best International Album - Drake - 'If You're Reading This, Its Too Late'

Best Grime - Stormzy 

Best Hip-Hop - Krept & Konan

Best R&B/Soul - Shakka

Best African - Fuse ODG 

Best Reggae - Popcaan 

Best Jazz - Binker And Moses

Best Gospel - Faith Child 

Romanian leader resigns over nightclub inferno

Romania's Prime Minister is to stand down after huge protests over a nightclub fire that killed more than 30 people after widespread protests. "I'm handing in my mandate, I'm resigning, and implicitly my government too," Victor Ponta said in a statement, adding he would stay on until a new coalition had been formed. "I am obliged to take note of the legitimate grievances which exist in society," he went on. "I hope handing in my and my government's mandate will satisfy the demands of protesters."

http://news.sky.com/story/1581464/romanian-pm-resigns-over-fatal-nightclub-fire

Samsung in reported $25 million tie up with Rihanna

The New York Post reports that electronics giant Samsung has reached an unprecedented $25 million deal to sponsor Rihanna’s upcoming album and tour, The Post says the Rihanna deal follows seven months of talks and is the biggest music-marketing tie-up in recent memory. Hammering out the details took longer than expected in part because Rihanna made some last-minute tweaks to the album, sources said. The news comes just a day after The Post reported exclusively that representatives of Adele, the 27-year-old UK pop star, are pushing Apple — and perhaps other companies — for a $30 million commitment to back her upcoming album and an as-yet announced world tour.

Another London venue closes

One of London's oldest live entertainment venues will close its doors for good following an unsuccessful campaign to secure its future. The Coronet at Elephant and Castle first opened as a theatre in 1879, where it is said Charlie Chaplin performed, but it has now been announced the venue would shut on January 5, 2017. Throughout its 136-year-old history, the venue has entertained Londoners as the Elephant and Castle Theatre, an ABC Cinema, the Coronet Film Centre and most recently as The Coronet. Artists who have played there include Tom Jones, Oasis, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/iconic-south-london-venue-which-has-hosted-charlie-chaplin-and-oasis-to-close-after-138-years-a3106051.html

Nightclub tragedy in Bucharest leaves 27 dead

Twenty-seven people - mostly teenagers and young people - have been killed after fire broke out at a nightclub in Bucharest, officials say. The blaze took hold at the Colectiv club on Friday night (30th October), causing a stampede for the two small exits - one of which was reportedly closed or blocked. Emergency response chief Raed Arafat said 155 people were being treated in hospitals in the Romanian capital. The fire is believed to have been caused by fireworks that were let off inside the club. The pyrotechnics were reportedly part of a show by a heavy metal band, and ignited polystyrene decor in the club.

The Great White tragedy in the USA in 2003 left 100 dead and 200 injured at the Station Nightclub after pyrotechnics set of by the band in the club ignited flammable sound proofing. The fatalities and injuries were caused by smoke inhalation and crushing. This was followed in 2004 in a similar incident at a nightclub in Argentina when 194 people died at the República Cromañónnight club  when rock group Callejeros were playing and a pyrotechnic flare was set off and ignited foam in the ceiling. In 2008 in Thailand again pyrotechnics set of by a band on stage at the Satntika nightclub caused a fire and left 66 people dead. In 2009 in Perm in Russia, 156 died after fireworks set the ceiling alight - and also the same year and just after Perm there was a near miss in Scotland - indoor fireworks set fire to the plastic netting hung across the roof in the Luna nightclub in Edinburgh. And what do people learn? Nothing it seems. When I used to teach undergraduates, I would go through all of these tragedies - and point out that if a band or venue let off fireworks and/or the fire exits are locked, blocked or chained shut - its time to leave. 

The owner of the Station Nightclub in the USA and Great White's tour manager both received prison sentences for manslaughter. Michael Derderian, the club owner ,received four years and Dan Biechele, the tour manager, four years with a further eleven years suspended. Derderian's brother and club co-owner Jeffrey received 500 community service and the brother were fined $1.06 million for failing to have proper insurance. A massive civil claim followed and defendants included the club, the band, the local fire department, those who sold the fireproofing, Clear Channel who helped promote the show, a local TV station, the Local Town Authority and the State. In Russia, a court in the central Russian city of Perm has sentenced a prominent nightclub owner to nine years and 10 months in jail over a deadly fire in December 2009.  Anatoly Zak and four former associates in his Khromaya Loshad (Lame Horse) nightclub were found guilty of manslaughter. The four were sentenced to prison terms of between four and six years. Two former officials from the local fire-safety directorate were found guilty of negligence and sentenced to four and five years in jail. In Thailand, the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court found two people, club owner Wisuk Setsawat,  and Boonchu Laorinath, the light and sound company's owner, guilty of negligence in 2011. Wisuth and Boonchoo were given three-year jail terms. Boonchoo was also ordered to pay Bt8.5 million in compensation to five plaintiffs, relatives of the victims. After the Luna near miss, Sheriff Graeme Warner slammed the "unbelievable attitude" of the DJ, Jason Cormack, who let of the pyrotechnics saying it was fortunate nobody had died and that setting off fireworks indoors was like handing a child a gun and being surprised when someone was injured.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34684973 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34684973 and http://www.rferl.org/content/perm-nightclub-fire-sentencing-owner-2009/24973094.html

UK Festival Awards 2015 – The Shortlists

The UK Festival Awards has revealed the shortlists for the vast majority of its categories, which include Best Major, Medium Sized and Small Festivals; Headline Performance of the Year; Best Non-Music Festival; Best Hospitality; The Grass Roots Festival Award; and many more.

The UK Festival Awards will be held on November 26 at The Roundhouse in Camden. Preceding the Awards in the day time will be the UK Festival Conference, whose full listings were curated by Festival Insights and were announced last week. Find them here.

The following categories were decided by the online public vote:

Best Major Festival

Bestival
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Creamfields
Download
Glastonbury
Isle of Wight Festival
Parklife
Reading & Leeds
T In The Park
V Festival
Victorious Festival
Wireless

Best Medium Sized Festival

Beat Herder
Beautiful Days
Bloodstock Open Air
Camp Bestival
End Of The Road Festival
Green Man
Kendal Calling
Latitude
We are FSTVL
Y Not Festival

Best Small Festival

2000trees
Eden Festival
Festival Number 6
Garage Nation Festival
Larmer Tree Festival
Lost Village Festival
Southampton Soundclash Festival
The Secret Festival
The Social Festival
Truck Festival
 
Best New Festival

Breaking Bands Festival
Common People
Forgotten Fields
Garage Nation
Lindisfarne Festival
Lost Village
Robin Hood Folk Festival
Southampton Soundclash Festival
Together The People
Wild Life Festival

Best Dance Festival

Beat Herder
Brownstock Festival
Creamfields
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) UK
Field Manoeuvres
Lost Village Festival
Parklife
Retro Trax
We are FSTVL
Wild Life Festival

Best Metropolitan Festival

Blackpool Music Festival
Dot to Dot
Live at Leeds
Liverpool Calling
Liverpool Music Week
Liverpool Sound City
Macmillan Fest
MADE Birmingham
Slam Dunk Festival
Tramlines

Best Family Festival

2000trees
Beautiful Days
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Camp Bestival
Eden Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
Kendal Calling
Latitude
Victorious Festival
Y Not Festival
 
The Grass Roots Festival Award

2000trees
ArcTanGent
Barn on the Farm
Beautiful Days
Bloodstock Open Air
Eden Festival
Green Man
Lost Village
The Secret Festival
Y Not Festival

Best Toilets

2000trees
Bestival
Creamfields
Download
Isle of Wight Festival
Kendal Calling
Reading & Leeds
V Festival
Wireless
Y Not Festival

Best Overseas Festival

Annie Mac Presents: Lost & Found Festival (Malta)
Benicassim (Spain)
Creamfields Ibiza (Spain)
Electric Picnic (Ireland)
Hideout Festival (Croatia)
Ibiza Rocks (Spain)
Lollapalooza Berlin (Germany)
Pohoda Festival (Slovakia)
Snowbombing (Austria)
Sziget Festival (Hungary)

Best Headline Performance

Björk at Wilderness Festival
The Flaming Lips at Liverpool Sound City
Fleetwood Mac at Isle of Wight Festival
Florence and the Machine at Glastonbury
Grace Jones at Festival Number 6
Jon Hopkins at Bloc
Jungle at Secret Garden Party
Missy Elliot at Bestival
Muse at Download
Sufjan Stevens at End of the Road Festival
Taylor Swift at British Summer Time Hyde Park
The Libertines at Reading & Leeds
 
Anthem Of The Summer

Bring Me The Horizon – Throne
James Bay – Hold Back the River
Jamie xx – Loud Places
Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
Lionel Ritchie – Dancing on the Ceiling
Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk
Patti Smith – Gloria
Skepta – Shutdown
Spring King – City
The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face

The following categories were decided by panels of industry experts:

Best Line-Up

Bestival
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Common People
Download
Festival Number 6
Field Day
Isle Of Wight Festival
Kendal Calling
Latitude
Liverpool Music Week
Parklife
The Social Festival

The Extra Festival Award

Bearded Theory
Blissfields
Festival Number 6
Grillstock
Latitude
Liverpool International Music Festival
Lost Village
Standon Calling
The Big Feastival
Wild Life Festival

Best Festival For Emerging Talent (NEW)

Barn on the Farm
Bloodstock Open Air
Breakout Festival
Cambridge Folk Festival
Live at Leeds
LIVE in Barnsley
Liverpool International Music Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Mammothfest
Reading & Leeds

Best Use Of New Technology

Belladrum Tartan Heart (for the Rapidscan Box Office app)
Download (for RFID Cashless Dog Tags)
Latitude (for its live digital coverage)
Liverpool Sound City (for the Gigmit live music service)
Port Elliot Festival (for Loowatt)
Glastonbury Festival (for the Arcadia Spectacular biofuel flame system)
Reading Festival (for the CoLocator service)
Snowbombing (for RFID Cashless wristbands)
Wild Life Festival (for The Terminal Stage)

Best Hospitality (NEW)

2000trees
British Summer Time Hyde Park
Camp Bestival
Creamfields
Download
Festival Number 6
Fusion Festival
Glastonbury Festival
Shambala
Wilderness Festival

Best Non-Music Festival (NEW)

Base Camp Festival
Eroica Britannia
Innocent Un-Plugged
Insomnia Gaming Festival
Manchester International Festival
NASS Festival
Saloufest
Taste of London
The Good Life Experience
Wildfire Adventure Camp

Promoter Of The Year

Amust4Music (Bloodstock)
Andy George, Jaymo & Ben Atkins (Lost Village)
Andy Marsh & Ian Evans (Victorious)
Count of Ten (Y-Not, Tramlines, Truck, Brownstock)
Damien Sanders, Big Kev & Team (Fusion)
Fiona Stewart & Team (Green Man)
From the Fields (Kendal Calling, Forgotten Fields)
John Giddings (Isle Of Wight / Solo Agency)
Scott Barton (Creamfields)
SJM Concerts (Wild Life Festival)

Outstanding Contribution Award

Winner: Peter Gabriel

Nordic CMOs join ICE

PRS for Music have announced that the Koda (Denmark), TONO (Norway) and Teosto (Finland) performing rights societies are integrating their copyright data and services with the ICE.  ICE’s mandate is to hold a single multi-territory, multi-rights entry for a copyright work.  The decision was taken by the societies to set up the 'Polaris Nordic initiative' to offer their members a more efficient and cost-effective service. 

PRS set up "Extensive tariff review "

Already reviewing the Tariff LP rate for concerts, live events and festivals, PRS for Music have announced an extensive review of more tariffs with the stated aim to "simplify, streamline and consolidate more than 40 public performance licensing tariffs as part of a Public Performance Tariff Simplification programme" although detractors will be looking to see if hidden rate increases are included in conclusions.

The programme will involve a series of customer consultations across the public performance licensing tariffs PRS operate who say "responses will help inform and shape a set of tariffs that are simple to understand, operate and fit for purpose."

Rob Kirkham, PRS for Music Head of Business Development, said: “The purpose of the simplification programme is to create tariffs that are easy to understand and use. By reviewing public performance tariffs across a number of sectors, our aim is that customers can continue to utilise and enjoy PRS for Music’s repertoire in a simpler and more efficient way. The consultations will provide opportunities to engage with our customers offering them open lines of communication with us, as PRS seeks to ensure that we continue to operate modern and appropriate licensing schemes.” 

The first set of consultations launched as part of the review included:

- Fitness and Dance (Tariffs J, GP, O and DS). These apply to the use of music at Proprietary Clubs, Swimming Pools, Dance Tuition Schools and for General Purposes.

- Universities and Higher Education institutions (Tariff UC). These apply to the public performance of music outside the teaching syllabus at premises for students or staff.

Truss collapse leaves one dead in China

The 'Queen of Mandopop', Jolin Tsai's latest show has suffered has been cancelled after a fatality. The concert, part of the 2015 Play World Tour was halted after the show's lighting trusses collapsed in China leaving 10 injured, at least one seriously, and 1 dead. The accident happened on Thursday afternoon at the Guangxi Stadium in Nanning, the news website Chinanews.com reported. Firefighters, rescue workers and police pulled 14 people free caught under equipment, the report said. Police are investigating the accident.

New Welfare Guide Launched by the Events Industry Forum

A comprehensive new guide to welfare at events has been published by the Events Industry Forum.

The new guide, which has been written by welfare specialist Penny Mellor, draws on the experiences of a wide range of welfare organisations to provide a set of guidelines for providing welfare services at events, such as concerts and festivals. It also contains guidance for event organisers about providing welfare services as well as downloadable forms that can be used by those providing these services (e.g. lost property etc.)

This is thought to be the first time that guidance on welfare services has been made available and it is hoped that it will lead to greater consistency in the approach to the provision of these essential services.

The provision of good welfare services is critical at many events as they provide support for dealing with a wide range of issues, from drug problems, welfare and distress to lost people and property.

The new Welfare Guide is being published alongside the Purple Guide and will be provided to subscribers at no extra cost. The work to create the guide was funded by a grant from the Events Industry Forum raised through subscriptions to the Purple Guide. ‘The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events’ was originally published by the Health & Safety Executive, but taken over by EIF in 2014 with their support. It is considered to be the main reference source to health and safety by the events industry and is used widely by licensing authorities, enforcement agencies as well as event organisers.

EIF has made a commitment that all funds raised from subscriptions to the Guide, after costs, will be reinvested in support for the UK events industry and has recently announced that it is making a further £8,000 of grants available for industry projects. 

Details of the new guide can be found at www.thepurpleguide.co.uk