Partner Article

Cash boost for music industry

Funding will see new jobs and increased support for new and existing music businesses across the region.

A £1.64m business support initiative for the music industry is to help 240 small and medium sized enterprises and create up to 100 new jobs.

Leading UK music development agency Generator, has launched the ‘Building the Business of Music’ programme to bring more focused and specialised business support and development to the sector.

It will work with emerging talent and provide a range of development opportunities for new SMEs and existing companies. This will include special clinics to provide support and advice to groups of music industry SMEs and bespoke business to business mentoring and networking.

The project is being part financed by £822,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2007-13, secured through regional development agency One North East.

This has been matched by a range of funders including Arts Council England, Big Lottery, the Working Neighbourhood Fund, the Northern Rock Foundation and Generation 2012.

“A crucial focus for us will be on supporting collaboration between emerging and existing SMEs in the region, opening up routes to market and creating access to national industry networks and expertise,” explained Generator chief executive Jim Mawdsley.

“We will also offer specialist advice and support in key areas for the music industry including Intellectual Property, digital distribution, funding and finance and marketing.

“Working in partnership with the likes of Northern Film & Media and Codeworks, another key aspect is to create strong links with other commercial creative industry sub sectors where there are significant opportunities for music SMEs, such as film, games and television.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .