Written evidence submitted by the Incorporated
Society of Musicians
1. SUMMARY
1.1 This is a short submission by the Incorporated
Society of Musicians (ISM) the professional body for musicians
in the UK to the committee's inquiry into spectrum.
1.2 The submission draws your attention to the
possible impact some spectrum arrangements can have on the use
of radio microphones and should be read as a supporting statement
for the more substantial submission from BEIRG (British Entertainment
Industry Radio Group).
2. THE PROGRAMME
MAKING AND
SPECIAL EVENTS
(PMSE) SECTOR
2.1 The campaign group Save Our Sound UK (SOS
UK) represents the concerns of BEIRG—British Entertainment
Industry Radio Group, PFA—Professional Footballers Association,
RSC—Royal Shakespeare Company, and SOLT—Society Of
London Theatres in relation to spectrum sell-offs.
2.2 Live music, newsgathering, musical theatre
and other events all use spectrum wavelengths and the potential
impact of further sales of spectrum on the PMSE is significant.
3. SPECIFIC COMMENTS
3.1 The PMSE sector is growing, not shrinking,
and as production values and professionalism of the sector develop,
so the bandwidth required increases. The sector needs sufficient
quality and quantity of bandwidth to continue to put on high quality
events.
3.2 The disruption to sector by evictions from
800Mhz band—the focus of the earlier Save Our Sound UK campaign—focused
on should be considered again and borne in mind during future
sell-offs of spectrum space.
3.3 No sell-off of 600MhZ bandwidth should take
place or be proposed or consulted on until the fate of UHF Bands
IV and V is known. If the 700MhZ band is sold off, then the 600MhZ
band must be protected to enable the PMSE sector to function.
3.4 The value of the events sector to the UK
economy should not be overlooked. We have an entertainment economy
estimated to be worth £15 billion with music alone contributing
£5 billion[26]
to our economy and music tourists contributing at least £864
million to the UK economy.[27]
3.5 In our previous evidence to the committee's
inquiry into the Olympic Legacy, we highlighted the possible impact
spectrum changes could have on the Olympic events themselves and
re-iterate this concern.
4. ABOUT THE
INCORPORATED SOCIETY
OF MUSICIANS
4.1 The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)
is the professional body for music and musicians. We are independent
of government and not financially dependent on any third party;
our mission is to champion the art of music and support the music
professional.
4.2 Founded in 1882, we have over 5,700 members
who come from all branches of the profession: soloists, orchestral
and ensemble performers, composers, teachers, academics and students.
Our corporate membership of over 100 organisations includes the
Association of British Orchestras (ABO), Classic FM, the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the International
Artists Managers Association (IAMA), the Music Industries Association
(MIA), all the UK conservatoires, several universities and our
specialist music schools.
4.3 The ISM is a member of the Council for Subject
Associations (CfSA) and provides secretariat support to the All-Party
Parliamentary Group for Music Education. Our Chief Executive,
Deborah Annetts, is Chair of the Music Education Council (MEC).
4.4 Our internationally recognised Distinguished
Musician Award, first awarded in 1976, has been received by Sir
William Walton OM, Jacqueline du Pre OBE, Sir Michael Tippett
OM CH CBE, Sir Colin Davis CBE, Sir Charles Mackerras AC CH CBE
and Pierre Boulez. Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir Malcolm
Sargent, The Lord Menuhin OM KBE (Yehudi Menuhin), Sir David Willcocks
and Dame Gillian Weir are all past presidents of the Incorporated
Society of Musicians.
June 2011
26 Music, Department for Culture, Media and Sport Back
27
Destination Music, UK Music, 16 May 2011 Back
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