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PIC CRED JASON SHELDON LONDON GRAMMAR AT TOWN HALL BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands Music Board launches to help industry recover after pandemic
Southside Safe Space returns
) To help the region’s music and entertainment industry recovery following the pandemic, Culture Central has announced the launch of a new initiative, the first-ever West Midlands Music Board (WMMB). In a statement from B:Music – the music charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall – it explained that: “Until now, there has been an absence of a dedicated music board to provide the West Midlands with a collective strategic voice to advocate for, compile data on and lead the local music sector. “The development of the WMMB has been created in close consultation with local stakeholders, in recognition and response to the significant adverse impact of the pandemic on the music sector in West Midlands – which comprises festivals, music educators, record labels, venues, production, large-scale, and commercial stakeholders, and contributes a significant portion of the UK’s £5 billion industry, with a music tourism sector that supports over 3,500 jobs.” The WMMB has ambitious plans and they will be chaired by Nick Reed, the CEO of B:Music, and led by a diverse board of high-profile industry professionals from across the West Midlands, including; Lawrence Barton (venue manager, chair of Southside BID, organiser of PRIDE festival in Birmingham), Holly Hollister (DJ, promoter, founder of Selextorhood, and co-director of BABMAG), and Louise Stamp (general manager of O2 Academy Birmingham / O2 Institute Birmingham). The full list of the board members can be found on B:Music’s website: www.bmusic.co.uk.
) Southside District – home to Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ village – is ensuring that everyone returning to the nightlife scene in the area will remain safe after its facility, which is based in the Arcadian, has reopened to revellers.
Birmingham Hippodrome shares commitment to diversity, inclusion and anti-racism To achieve this, Birmingham Hippodrome has implemented a three-phase programme which is already underway, and is also welcoming feedback on Change@ birminghamhippodrome.com.
NICK REED
“We will work to ensure that decisions around investment, training, planning and skills allow our incredible music sector to flourish and grow, creating jobs and sustainable careers here in the West Midlands.
WMMB’s mission is to “champion the region’s music industry and ecosystem, protect and promote music industry development at grassroots level and work with local authorities, institutions and government to develop regional data, policies and advocacy”. In order to achieve its goals, it has set out four key objectives: 1: Economic growth and recovery; 2: Supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion; 3: Developing the local, regional and national representation of the West Midlands’ music industry; 4: Collecting and compiling data to support increased investment in the industry.
LADY LESHURR
Several respected music artists from the West Midlands – including Lady Leshurr, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, and Joan Armatrading have already championed the newly established WMMB. Lady Leshurr – who in 2018 came out publicly as pansexual – added: “There is an amazing music scene in the West Midlands, and we need to shout about it more. We need investment, training and opportunities for our talent to break through. It’s great to see this board come together to make that happen.”
Staffed by St John Ambulance & Community Response, its aim is “to offer anyone who feels vulnerable a secure space to recover and get home safely”.
Anyone who feels unsafe, unwell or Southside Safe Space is open from needs assistance for any reason is midnight-5.30am every Friday and encouraged to head to the safe space Saturday and is the place to go for to get the help they need. anyone out in the city who needs help
Nick Reed said: “The board aims to represent a unique identity, by placing music and the wider night-time economy in the West Midlands at the heart of national and regional strategy.
“A key part of our work will be ensuring that these careers are open and inclusive to all. From the national levelling up agenda to local transport policy, the WMMB will speak with a unified voice for music in the region. We are coming together at a time when the postponement of Stage 4 is causing profound and extended hardship for everyone in our sector. There has never been a more important time to unite, and I am delighted to chair the board, and to be working with such a talented group of people.”
or support.
) A statement from Birmingham Hippodrome, the venue which sits in the heart of the LGBTQ+ village, has explained that it is committed to ensuring inclusion is at the centre of everything it does. Birmingham Hippodrome wrote: “We have heard the calls from our Black, East and South Asian communities, from our disabled and our LGBTQ+ neighbours and friends, from our region’s younger generation and we acknowledge that we have a huge amount of work to do.
The statement continued: “We recognise that we are on a journey and that this is ongoing work. We are collectively open to change, facing hard truths along the way. We are committed to “We are energised and excited to move truly reflecting the city and region that we know and love within our workforce, forward, breaking down barriers and our programmes, our audiences, and building relationships for us to meet our commitment and become a more opportunities. We will embrace change equitable place for audiences, artists, because we believe that it should and will be a part of our DNA.” participants, and our own teams.”
