Mapping
In October 2009, the BMF launched an online survey of the music industry in the South West.
Music To Market has not only served as the wider public consultation for the SWMF Strategy, but also acts to inform local and regional activities.
The survey is the first stage of the mapping of the music industry as identified in ‘The SWMF: Business Case and Sector Development Plan’ to identify activity and economic impact across all links in the supply chain and provide evidence to begin to unblock barriers to business and professional growth.
The survey attracted 160 responses, most of which have been from individuals and businesses involved in the music industry. Some of the findings are summarised as follows:
• 92% wish to see a music development agency for SW music
• 68% would pay for such an organisation.
All respondents agreed that new business and making new contacts was important to them. It was also seen by all that a music development agency could provide a range of services. The most important being:
• 87.8% would like more Networking
• 74.4% would like more Events
• 73.3% would like further Training Information / News dissemination
69.4% felt that the industry should be more closely involved in skills development and training, with 70.0% suggesting a need for new, affordable rehearsal facilities to be set up in local areas. These could be existing centres that are adapted to co-locate support services to the creative industries.
Regarding sales, half of all respondents gain their main income from working in the industry. All participants that sell their music use iTunes as a way to sell their work, with many using MySpace as their primary web presence. Most artists find using independent retailers more acceptable that the main high street dealers, mainly due to retail mark up of goods being higher in the bigger chain stores.
88.9% of all respondents agreed that an online promotion and retail facility specifically for the South West music industry would be very beneficial, and they would use the service.
On the wider business side of the industry
59.0% would you be willing to take part in a carbon and waste audit of the music industry in the South West
42.6% felt that they have a working relationship with their local authority, but often clarity as to who to speak to was found to be difficult
60% do not believe that government agencies and funders have helped develop the music industry in the region.
Over 70% of all respondents receive no public sector funding of any kind.
Thank you for taking the Music To Market survey.
Following our initial presentation on the results of the survey at the Watershed in Bristol on 3rd March we will publishing a full report here soon.
Thank you to all those that came along on 3rd March and for the very positive feedback on the survey.
This survey is very important to us. If you work in music in the South West it will be of benefit to you too.
Your answers will help us to build an accurate picture of music activity in the South West of England, and the size, needs and economic output of music businesses and musicians across the region.
We need this information in order to advocate for improved and sustainable support to businesses and artists, and to lobby for increased investment into the music sector in the South West.
The survey is an essential part of our work to create sustainable support to musicians and music businesses in the region, and follows a period of desk based research and the development of music forums in the South West. This work has to date been supported by the South West RDA, South West Screen, and UK Trade & Investment.
The data from the survey will be collated and put into a report which will be made available online at www.bristolmusicfoundation.com. The report will be sent to regional and national government and funding agencies and will inform the Working Version of the SWMF Strategy
If you have any queries on this survey please contact us at mapping@bristolmusicfoundation.com.
The information you provide will be kept on file and used for the purpose of compiling a report on the music industry in the South West.
Your information will not be passed on to any other party. All information provided will be collated by the BMF into a general report.
As part of this research we also invite you to join the BMF and SWMF network and create a profile at www.bristolmusicfoundation.com.
We are on Facebook. Click here to view our profile, and you can like us by clicking the button above
Join BMF
You can add your own profile to this site, for free! Simply click on the ‘join now’ button below…
Become a member now and get connected, get supported, get noticed… !
If you would prefer to only signup for the newsletter click here