The Week in Light & Sound
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Creative Strategy - Creative companies are becoming increasingly important to the UK's future economic success and should be at the heart of the government's new industrial strategy, a trade body says. The Creative Industries Federation says film-making, music, advertising and video games are all big export earners but are often overlooked by ministers. It says enterprise zones, tax breaks and access to finance could help firms.
The role of the UK's creative industries, which also includes theatre, architecture, broadcasting, fashion, museums, and galleries was recognised when the government unveiled its industrial strategy Green Paper in January for boosting the post-Brexit economy. The Creative Industries Federation says ministers need to "overhaul" their approach. The federation has unveiled a blueprint of policy recommendations for the creative industries which it says is "the fastest growing sector of the UK economy".
It said the creative economy supports 2.9m jobs, a rise of 5.1% between 2014 and 2015. Brexit means it is now "even more crucial" for the sector "to deliver more jobs, trade and exports", it adds. The federation's chief executive, John Kampfner, said: "There has been a tendency to dismiss the creative industries as something lightweight while claiming the glory of billions of pounds in trade that comes from hits such as War Horse, Sherlock and Slumdog Millionaire." Business Secretary Greg Clark said creative industries contributed nearly £90bn to the economy in 2015.
Radio Silence - Radiohead had to abandon the stage twice during their headline set at Coachella music festival in the US, after they were hit with numerous technical problems. The band faced complete sound failures along with episodes of audio feedback. "Can you actually hear me now?" Thom Yorke asked crowds when he returned to the stage for the second time. "I'd love to tell you a joke, lighten the mood, something like that. But this is Radiohead..." The live stream audio was also affected by sound problems.
Lazarus Rising - David Bowie’s musical Lazarus is to become a virtual reality experience at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.The VR show will be part of the museum’s fourth Performance Festival, which celebrates all forms of live performance. Audiences will be able to experience a recording of the production through VR headsets on 30 April. Lazarus, a musical sequel to Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 science fiction film The Man Who Fell to Earth, was Bowie’s final project before his death in January 2016.
Spice Reunion - Emma Bunton has hinted that there might be a Spice Girls reunion, saying it would "a shame" if the group did not get back together. The singer, who during the band's heyday was known as Baby Spice, said it would have to happen soon as they are all "getting on a bit". The group sold more than 85m albums worldwide and had nine UK number one singles. They last appeared together at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.
(Jim Evans)
18 April 2017
