This year’s also the 50th anniversary of hip hop* …
BPI (British Phonographic Industry) supporting British Music through the ages …..
…. Now someone once told me we had the biggest music company in the world …. Once
Despite this eventual loss Britain still punches way above its weight in the creative industries in general
Music
Film/TV/Publishing
Fashion
Advertising
And British Artists both old and new continue to make artistic and commercial headliners [sic]
But as ever over the last almost 50 years the music industry is changing faster than most other (creative) industries.
Here’s to Britain continuing to push the boundaries and break new ground both artistically and commercially … and who knows one day we may once again be able to claim to be home to the world’s biggest music company (or ecology), who knows?
A truly global outlook and good dose of technology these days, likely prerequisites.
In my virtual travels I’ve found much investor support. Government support and stimulus is always helpful if we are to set Britain centre the global stage.
And with the right level of ambition, stimulus and support we may even manage a global studio one day to match Hollywood’s or a tech unicorn to rival Google. Who knows. (Jeremy - or possibly Rachel - as I’ve mentioned in posts before you set the task years ago when I was in the room - albeit at that time we already had ARM … now’s the time to chip in and create the next ….)
In the meantime the British back catalogue is pretty hefty - the Beatles, David Bowie (first to securitise his royalties - many decades before the current vogue), Rolling Stones etc.
But despite Dua, Stormzy, Adele and 1Dto5D [or the rest of Syco] we’ve got some way to go yet to meet Drake or Tay Tay or Jay Z or BTS.
We do need new megastars to push the art form forward (and create the back catalogues of tomorrow)
Postscript: (Showing my age..)
Yes am a big hip hop fan (amongst other genres) since it emerged from jazz, soul, funk and disco alongside breakdancing first time around. Once completely underground, now the biggest selling genre in the world.
* according to some: 50 years ago refers to the first breakbeat dropped by DJ Kool Herc in the Bronx (you know there were B Boys on vinyl there and not just spinning discs!) for those that need to /don’t know.
But listen to Gil Scott Heron or James Brown pre ‘73 and you’ll hear it bubblin’ thru before that too. [UK Garage ref]
Over the last 50 years, the BPI has engaged with politicians at the very highest level to help shape policy and new legislation in support of British music
Watch the BPI's full 50th-anniversary sizzle reel reflecting five decades of promoting British music on our website: bit.ly/3rAW9Al
Thank you for sharing, we are so thrilled to have him on the team!