Heart of the Music Industry
The summer 2022 issue of The Musician magazine is scheduled to be dispatched in print format to MU members this week. This is the 70th edition for which I have been editor, a role I have fulfilled since spring 2005 when the relationship with Future Publishing was established.
A wonderful night at Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall in the company of Jimmy Webb as he performed a selection of his legendary songs on the first night of a UK tour. The awesome setlist included all my favourites, plus fascinating stories from his inspiring career composing for Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, the 5th Dimension, The Supremes, Art Garfunkel, and Richard Harris.
Mark Batchelor and I drove an Enterprise van up to Springfield Farm in St Albans this morning, to set up the MU presence at Flesh Festival, the UK’s first queer LGBTQ+ electronic music & camping festival.
As part of the ongoing Government and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) music streaming work, a small group of researchers have been commissioned by the IPO to interview artists and industry stakeholders about industry contracts.
Another rewarding day at Cumberwell Park, the challenging golf centre at Bradford-on-Avon just outside Bath, in aid of the Bath Cancer Support Group & Dorothy House. I had played in the competition, organised by Sarah and Neil Davies, in 2017 and 2018 and it was very pleasant to compete in its first return after the pandemic.
The second match of the cricket season for Beckenham CC’s Under 17 team, saw a straightforward victory by 71 runs over a youthful but committed side from Bickley Park in delightful early summer sunshine.
An excellent weekend in the company of photographer Jonathan Stewart, catching up with the UK guitar community at the ‘Guitar Show’ in the spacious New Bingley Hall in Birmingham.
A superb day at Rimshot Studios, Sittingbourne, in the company of producers Mike Thorne and Greg Fitzgerald, make-up artist Emily Bellussi-Fitzgerald, plus videographers Josh and Reuben, as we collectively shot a performance video for ‘Caring Soul.’
A wonderful day at Abbey Road in the company of producer James Reynolds as he oversaw a string session in Studio 2, led and arranged by master arranger Pete Whitfield. This was the last of three days’ work, all scheduled for vocal and instrumental contributions to the debut release on the Revival label.
I could be found in Sheffield today, at the home of the Blades, Bramall Lane. I had been kindly invited by former striker Tony Agana to their home match with AFC Bournemouth. We arrived at the ground just before 11am and immediately ran into local legend and former England star, Tony Currie, once voted the club’s greatest ever player.
