Delivered in front of an audience of creative industry professionals, Hancock used his first speech to set out his three main priorities, which he described as "backing success, access and synthesis". After praising the creative industries as "absolutely central to our post-Brexit future", Hancock said he would "fight to ensure that the creative and digital industries are at the heart of this government's industrial strategy." The minister went on to pledge that creative sector tax reliefs would not be adversely affected by Brexit.
Hancock, who worked in the technology sector before moving into politics, said his third priority would be to better strengthen the relationship between technology and culture. He cited the live-streaming of theatre productions as an example of existing ways in which "we are able to meld time-honoured craft with cutting-edge technology". Hancock's speech was delivered at the British Film Institute and hosted by the Creative Industries Federation.
Big Issue - Andrew Lloyd Webber has accused some producers of staging their shows in smaller venues so they can demand higher prices for tickets. The composer, speaking at the launch of his new show School of Rock, which opens in the West End later this year, said high ticket prices had become "a very big issue", and highlighted the cost of a seat at Hamilton on Broadway. He said these could be as high as $1,000.
Speaking to The Stage, he said that when School of Rock opened on Broadway he could have chosen to stage it in a smaller venue to the Winter Garden Theatre and charge higher ticket prices. "It's really important that theatre is accessible and that is one of the reasons we went into a rather bigger theatre on Broadway than perhaps some people would have suggested. There is a school of thought that what you do is keep the show really, really tight and then force ticket prices up," he said. "Several producers have been doing that but I am not one of them."
Revenue Streams - The success of acts like Adele and Coldplay was not enough to reverse a fall in revenue from recorded music in 2015, industry figures show. One out of every six albums sold around the world was by a British artist, but the money generated for the UK economy dropped from £615m in 2014 to £610m. The value of live music also fell from £924m to £910m, UK Music said. However, the total contribution of the UK music business to the British economy remained static, at £4.1bn.
Money earned through publishing and licensing songs to films and advertisements helped make up the shortfall; while the money earned by British producers and recording studios rose from £116m to £119m. Overall, music industry revenues grew just 0.5% in 2015, falling behind GDP growth. However, UK Music said the business was "strong" and "resilient", having recorded growth of 17% since 2012, outpacing the economy as a whole. "There is every sign that the recorded sector will return to growth in 2016," said chairman Andy Heath.
Vocational Diploma - A new musical theatre school has been set up at Liverpool's Empire Theatre. Liverpool Academy of Musical Theatre will offer a one-year vocational diploma in musical theatre performance, with 22 places available for its first academic year. The course will cost £7,500 for the year, though two places will be awarded free as scholarships to applicants of "outstanding talent and potential". One will be reserved specifically for a Liverpool resident in an attempt to showcase local talent.
Farewell - Many tributes have been paid to Prince Buster who has died age 78. Jerry Dammers wrote, "Buster was really the first king of Jamaican music and started an international process which, with the help of its second king, made reggae probably the most popular music in the world, only to be eventually surpassed in popularity by hip-hop, a form which it had itself helped create.
"I don't suppose Prince Buster ever made an enormous amount of money himself, but I truly believe he turned out to be among the most influential figures in late 20th century music worldwide. Myself and all the Two Tone bands owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. None of us would have had the career in music we have had if it hadn't been for Prince Buster and his fellow Jamaican musicians."
In his Guardian obituary, Peter Mason wrote, "In 2001 Buster was awarded the Order of Distinction in Jamaica for his contribution to the development of the country's music industry. He had long since received countless accolades from his peers, but it was nonetheless fitting recognition for a man whose self-proclaimed title as King of Ska was never seriously disputed."
Madness, who took their name from a Prince Buster song, paid tribute as they played Radio 2's Festival in a Day at Hyde Park. Suggs dedicated The Prince, their first single, to the Jamaican musician. "It's a tragedy," he told BBC News. "He was enormously important. The fact he came from the streets and he had a terrific sense of humour and energy - it really appealed to us and it had a huge impact on everything we did, really."
(Jim Evans)
