Should The Music Business Grow Up?

SPEAKERS

TOPIC

Ever get the feeling the industry sometimes goes round in circles without getting very far? This think tank considers whether a more coordinated approach could benefit all.

Lord Puttnam, for example, noted over the summer that the film industry is better at stating its cultural argument to government than is our own. If we’re going to increase our profile in the corridors of power, is it time to consider the effects of Camden and Westminster councils’ ongoing flyposting litigation, or even Police and CPS investigations into anti-social song lyrics?

The Music Managers Forum recently highlighted another example of possible industry dysfunction, questioning the wisdom of anti-piracy initiatives in the face of a growing tidal wave of free CD covermounts. The MMF and BARD are now presenting a united front against the practice, but is an industry-wide approach to this and other issues simply unrealistic?