B:Music Annual Report 22-23

Photo © Garry Corbett

B:Music is the charity responsible for Town Hall and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

Each year we bring some of the world’s biggest stars to our stages and provide unforgettable experiences for thousands of audience members.

As well as being proud custodians of these iconic world-class venues, our mission is to inspire a passion for live music, ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds have access to incredible musical experiences.

Through our extensive community outreach and talent development programmes we offer hugely impactful opportunities to thousands of young people and adults every year, helping to bring diverse participants together and nurture the next generation of audiences and music makers.

Our Mission is to inspire a love of live music, through performance, participation and learning across Birmingham and beyond. We believe that music is essential to everyone and has the power to transform and change lives, to entertain and uplift, to create shared experiences and to educate.

Photos: Top: © Johnathan Bottom: © Paul Dixon

Welcome

Nick Reed CEO

I am delighted to share this snapshot of our activity during the 2022-23 financial year. Despite the long shadow of the pandemic, a sustained cost of living crisis and widespread geopolitical unrest, our ambition as a music charity remains undimmed.

In this report we share the headlines of our achievements, of which we are very proud. We are an independent music charity, but we compete in a regional and national marketplace which is dominated by multinational promoters and venue operators. Unlike our competitors, our drive is not to create profit for distant shareholders, but to create opportunities for young talent, to open up music to those marginalised, and to simply make lives better through listening and participating in music making. All the commercial acumen that our team bring to operating our two wonderful halls is in service of this charitable mission.

With 838 events delivered across both venues, over 100 of which have been free to access, it has been quite a year. I am grateful to everyone that bought a ticket, had brunch in our café bar, or chose to donate something extra when booking on our website. We hope that you had a great time with us and will continue to support B:Music in the years to come.

On behalf of the B:Music team, thank you.

Anita Bhalla OBE Chair

It is a great privilege for me to be Chair of B:Music, an amazing charity which sits at the heart of Birmingham and the region but has a national and international profile.

Since the opening of our new spaces at Symphony Hall in 2021 - created under the umbrella of “Making An Entrance” - we have been at the forefront of collaborative musical partnerships to ensure that Music is accessible to all, whoever you are and wherever you come from.

Our offering is not just about first-class inspiring performances with incredible musicians from all over the globe, our mission is to ensure that music is accessible to everyone through our participation and outreach work. We harness the power of music to bring people and communities together, and to improve our collective wellbeing.

Through our talent development programme we aim to nurture the next generation of music makers, helping young people to achieve their potential.

As a charity we rely on the generosity of our audiences and supporters, and without this support we would not be able to fulfil our charitable objectives. The cost of living challenges facing businesses and individuals mean that this support is now needed more than ever. We hope you will continue to work with us as we open new doors and look for new creative ways of working.

I would like to thank our amazing staff, our donors and funders, our communities and our audiences for helping us to be a thriving part of the creative offer in this region.

A Year In Numbers

838

444,524

2000+

115

£427,459

philanthropic income grant income received from local and national trusts and foundations

£109,574

498

500 total performances free to access events

total attendees

Children and young people given the chance to perform on our stages

106

300

regular donors provided continuous support throughout the year events supporting emerging or local artists

young people took part in our talent development programmes collaborations with schools & college students

The World Comes To Brum

Just a few of the musicians, speakers, dancers, and performers who graced our stages this year

ZOG

TABLE MANNERS PODCAST

MARC ALMOND NISH KUMAR CBSO

RUPI KAUR TIM PEAKE

FASCINATING AÏDA

GOLDFRAPP

MIDGE URE

PETE WILLIAMS CONCERTO BUDAPEST

ELVIS COSTELLO

SANDI TOKSVIG

CALUM SCOTT

BARBARA DICKSON

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

ROGER DALTREY

JASMINE GARDOSI DANIEL HOWELL

NASHVILLE SOUNDS IN THE ROUND

CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN

HEATHER SMALL

WILL YOUNG 10CC

SARAH MILLICAN

NEIGHBOURS: THE CELEBRATION TOUR

Development Programmes

B:and Together

7–19 Creative Ensembles

• In-school education outreach

• Summer School

• Saturday Jazz Ensemble

• Saturday Gospel Ensemble

stE.P up

11–18 Music Technology, DJing and Production

• DJing and Production education outreach

• DJing and Production summer school

B:Aspirational

16–25 Music and Talent Development

• Aspiring Music Leaders

• Rise Up

• College Connections

• Work Experience

• Youth Board

B:Next

B:Community

18+ Professional Development Opportunities

• Incubator Sessions

• Jazz Commission

• Free Jazz Fridays

Adults – Music for Health and Wellbeing

• Keys for life

• Musical Meet-ups

• Families Together at Christmas

• Community Spririt

B:and Together

Our Gospel and Jazz workshops are subsidised music making programmes for 11-19 year olds. Children learn Gospel and Jazz music from the best industry professionals in the city.

"Thank you and your team for all the hard work you do with RJ. I was there on Thursday. I was so proud to see him perform and bounce back with the rapping, it really shows how comfortable he is with you all, I can’t express how much this means to the both of us. The level of music was absolutely amazing from everyone and I cannot wait to come and see the next performance!" RJ’s mum (StEP Up and B:and Together participant parent)

"I think that children improve their confidence and musicianship. I also believe that the organisers are inspirational and give the children a positive space where they can express themselves and nurture their individual talents." B:and Together parent

All Photos © Kate Green Photography

B:Community

We are passionate about making music accessible to all and offer a range of musical experiences, improving wellbeing, breaking down barriers and empowering people from across the region to enjoy the power of live music. We aim to reflect and celebrate the wonderful diversity of communities across our city. It is our mission to provide a safe and welcoming environment where we can bring people of all ages together for shared and often life-changing experiences.

During this year, our community engagement projects included offering much-needed respite and a creative outlet to local unpaid carers though our 'Keys for Life' and 'Musical Meet Up' initiatives. We also delivered our annual 'Families Together at Christmas' concert at the Town Hall in partnership with Midland Mencap and an undeniable highlight was our fabulous Community Spirit project..

Photo © Johnathan Williams

Community Spirit

In July as part of the Commonwealth Festival, 700+ singers from a range of community choirs came together to perform their own choice of songs relating to the theme of 'Anthem', alongside performing the world premiere of a brand new commission 'We Rise' by Ken Burton, and presented in collaboration with B:Music Associate Artists, Black Voices, and ACE Dance and Music. The majority of the participants then went on to form a major part of the Commonwealth Voices Choir for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

"A fantastic experience, I loved every minute!"

Community Spirit Choir Member

Supporting Emerging Artists

We support the next generation of creative people (on and off stage); striving to eradicate all barriers to access. We create opportunities for young curious minds to develop a love of live music; providing educational opportunities to develop their talents and interests. We work with our local communities to find and support artists to take that next step in their career.

We are a space where artists can come together, share and pitch ideas, and we act as an incubator to support the development of those ideas.

Philippa Zawe

In May, Philippa Zawe supported Rhiannon Giddens at Town Hall. Philippa is a local artist who was also previously a Programming intern at B:Music. We are proud to be supporting talent both on and off stage and from within our own staff team as well.

"I was really given the space and the opportunity to explore what it is I wanted to do. I really value that. It gave me confidence, being part of an organisation like B:Music."

Beyond the Bricks of Brum

As part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, B:Music worked with local artists to produce a special one off event celebrating Birmingham.

Casey Bailey, Birmingham Poet Laureate worked with Sanity the MC and B:Music Associate Artists Black Voices, to invite Jasmine Gardosi, Agaama, John Bernard and TrueMendous to share the Symphony Hall stage. Their performance was set to music that was arranged and orchestrated by Jules Buckley, performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Dalia Stasevska.

The show was recorded live in its entirety by the BBC for their Inside Classical Season.

Photos © James Watkins, courtesy of BBC

Free To Access Events

Partners and Collaborators for the free to access events across all spaces included:

• Celebrating Sanctuary

• Sampad

• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

• Midland Mencap

• Fierce

• Beatfreaks/We Don’t Settle

• Birmingham Music Archive

• The Notebenders Big Band – Sax in the City

• Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

• Musicians Union

• National Open Youth Orchestra

• Queen Alexandra College – QAC Collective

• Music for Youth

• Services for Education

• Birmingham Forward Carers

• BIMM Birmingham

"Colmore Partners is proud to be a Business Patron of B:Music supporting the creation and development of musical talent across the West Midlands region. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to feel the benefits of live music and we are very excited to be a part of B:Music and its vision"

Richard Meek, Colmore Partners

"I just had to get in touch to say that I blooming love working with your team….we work with so many venues, and I can safely say you lot are one of the best. Thank you!"

Rachel Whibley, Carrot Productions

Photo © Johnathan Williams

Commonwealth Games

A celebration of creativity across the West Midlands and the Commonwealth.

Running from March 2022 to beyond the conclusion of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in September, the festival aimed to entertain and engage over 2.5 million people in person and online.

B:Music Highlights

In addition to hosting the Festival Launch Event at Symphony Hall, Community Spirit and Beyond The Bricks of Brum, B:Music also supported several other events during the momentous Summer in Birmingham.

On Record: In Conversation Broadcaster Satnam Rana and Radio Journalist Adrian Goldberg presented twenty-two conversations with Birmingham musicians, promoters, managers, venue owners and entrepreneurs who have all contributed to local, national, and international music culture. They hosted conversations with guests on their lives in music, their connections to the city, and how Birmingham has inspired or influenced them, personally and musically.

On Record: Album Launch On Record was a multi-artist, multi-genre concept album featuring eleven new songs about Birmingham, available on a limited vinyl release and across all streaming platforms. Led by Birmingham Music Archive’s Jez Collins and special guest Sanity, one of On Record’s featured artists they introduced each track of the sonic love letter to Birmingham at a album launch at Symphony Hall.

Victoria Square Festival Site B:Music produced and collaborated with multiple partners from across the city to provide 15 performances across the 10 days of the Commonwealth Games at the Victoria Square Festival Site. Supporting over 100 local and emerging musicians, with accessibility at the heart (every performance was British Sign Language interpreted and Audio Described) the event supported communities from across the city celebrating their culture and music with visitors from across the UK and world.

Keys To The City Across the Summer,

thousands of people were awarded a ‘Key to the City’ - a ceremonial honour - but also a physical Yale key that enabled recipients to explore private and intriguing places around the city. Key holders were able to visit Symphony Hall and unlock access to exclusive digital show content and on occasion, surprise tickets to upcoming events.

Photos © Johnathan Williams

BBC Commonwealth Games Coverage from B:Music venues and performances

Queen’s Baton Relay launch performance from Symphony Hall: livestream to Buckingham Palace and across BBC One and BBC News.

Birmingham 2022 Festival launch from Symphony Hall: broadcast on BBC Midlands Today and BBC WM.

BBC Sport coverage launch event: from Justham Family and Jane How Rooms, featuring the likes of Ellie Simmonds, Gabby Logan and Jason Mohammad – coverage was shown on BBC News, TV and Online platforms.

Beyond the Bricks of Brum: broadcast on BBC Four (Inside Classical), BBC iPlayer, BBC WM and BBC 1Xtra.

Songs of Praise: feature on the world premiere of the commission “We Rise” by Ken Burton for Community Spirit – broadcast on BBC and BBC iPlayer.

Victoria Square Festival Site: broadcast on BBC Breakfast on BBC One as part of a feature by Mike Bushell.

BBC WM pop-up studio at Symphony Hall: throughout the duration of the Games, athletes, supporters and celebrities were interviewed by a range of BBC WM presenters as part of live broadcasts of their respective shows from Symphony Hall.

views of Beyond The Bricks of Brum on BBC iPlayer. 53k

B:Eats Launch

Serving food and drink in the heart of Birmingham from the transformed spaces at Symphony Hall.

Opening in July 2022, ahead of the Commonwealth Games, B:Eats has become a hugely successful and welcoming space, where locally produced food is served alongside performances by local talent during our B:Eats performance weeks.

1.1k fish and chips sold

“Excellent value for money and delicious food options available will definitely be back!”

- Customer review

“Club sandwich ... more like a league”

- Customer review

“Lovely lunch and great kids deal too!”

- Customer review

Photos © The Relationship

Photo © Johnathan Williams

Financial Accounts

B:Music raises the majority of income from concerts and events in the form of either ticket income or rental fees from our varied programme of events. This year reached over £12m, with 65% from those events.

Our combined trading income from bars, our B:Eats cafe and all our commercial hires generated £2.5m and all profits are gift aided back to the charity.

Other vital sources of income are our sponsors, trusts and foundations, and individual donors. Our individual donors give generously and demonstrate a personal connection to our venues whether as a donation with a ticket, a regular giver or a legacy.

We are proud to continue to receive grants from Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England to deliver our portfolio of objectives.

Each year we aim to hold sufficient free reserves to maintain Symphony Hall and Town Hall for future audiences and this year is no exception.

Sources of Fundraising

How we are Funded

Concerts & events

Food & Beverage

Birmingham City Council grant

Commercial Hires

Donations, legacies & Sponsorship

Trusts and Foundations

Arts Council England

Apprenticeship grant

With Thanks

Trusts and Foundations

Alan Woodfield Trust

Alchemy Foundation

Allan and Nesta Ferguson Trust

Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation

Arts Council England

Backstage Trust

Blakemore Foundation

Bruce Wake Charitable Trust

Cole Charitable Trust

D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Daiwa Foundation

Dumbreck Charity

Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust

Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust

Eveson Charitable Trust

Foyle Foundation

GJW Turner Trust

GNC Trust

Garfield Weston Foundation

Geoff Hill Charitable Trust

George Cadbury Fund

George Fentham Birmingham Charity

George Henry Collins Charity

Golsoncott Foundation

Grantham Yorke Trust

Business Partners

The Grand Hotel

Q-Park

WMGC

Browne Jacobson

Solihull College and University Centre

Midland Mencap

Associate Artists and organisations

CBSO

Ex Cathedra

Thomas Trotter

Black Voices

Grimmitt Trust

Heathcock Charitable Trust

John Feeney Charitable Trust

Joseph Hopkins and Henry James Sayer

Charities

Landau Limited

Lillie Johnson Charitable Trust

Limoges Trust

Lord Austin Trust

MK Rose Charitable Trust

Michael Marsh Charitable Trust

Mills and Reeve Charitable Trust

Oakley Charitable Trust

PRS Foundation

Patrick Trust

RVJ Cadbury Charitable Trust

Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust

Roughley Trust

Rowlands Trust

Saintbury Trust

Thompson Family Charitable Trust

WED Charitable Trust

Westhill Endowment

William A Cadbury Trust

Corporate Patrons

PMP Consultants

Colmore Partners

NOYO – National Open Youth Orchestra

BACH – British Association of Concert Halls

ECHO – European Concert Hall Organisation

European Jazz Network

Makers Circle

Mr P Ashen, Jayne Cadbury MBE, Paul Carter, Paul & Dee Cocking, W. Peter Dunne, G. Cm. & Fionuala A. Dunne, Roger G. Guest, Dr Brian Gwynn, P & J Hall, Vivianne Hollinshead, Dr C G Johnston, The Justham Family, Lynn Lawrenson, James & Meg Martineau, Ian McAlpine, Ian C Norton, Jenna & Jeremy Plewes, Ald. Mike Poulter MBE & Mrs K Poulter, Pat Poynton, Mr I & Mrs G Reaves, Nick and Carole Reed, Graham Russell & Gloria Bates, Helen Russell, John & Pat Rutter, Gillian Shaw, Bryan Smith, Tony Smith, David & Lucy Stanley, Isabel Stewart, Mr A Taylor, Robert & Julia Verrion, Howard & Judy Vero, Dr D & Mr P Wardley, Alan Woodfield and other anonymous donors.

Patrons

Mr Leigh Astill, Helen E Bates, June & Graham Bentley, Anita Bhalla OBE, Mr & Mrs H Buckingham, Paul & Dee Cocking, Roger G. Guest, Mr & Mrs Martyn R Hale, Mr Peter How, Dr Johnston, Julia & Peter Maskell, Ian McAlpine, Mrs E Murray, Mr Robert Pockney, Graham Russell, Janette Rutter, Mr & Mrs G Tovell, Mr Neville Trumper, Mr & Mrs Verrion, Mr P & Mrs D Wardley and anonymous supporters.

Support

From bucket collections at events to the support of trusts and foundations, every penny counts to help us remove barriers and reach out to new audiences; empowering people from across the region and beyond to experience the joy and power of live music and to enrich the stages of the Town Hall and Symphony Hall.

With your help, we can do so much more. To learn more about how to support us as an individual, a business or a Trust and Foundation please visit

bmusic.co.uk/support-us

"…three days past and it’s still sinking in and I’m still emerging out of the haze. I had a phenomenal time and I know what you mean about the atmosphere - there was such a gorgeous energy in that space. It was a special event for me.

B:Music’s support to make this happen has meant everything"

Jasmine Gardosi, Birmingham Poet Laureate, following Dancing To Music You Hate

Photo © James Watkins, courtesy of BBC

Photo © James Watkins, courtesy of BBC