GENERAL

The National Music Council sits at the centre of a complex network of national music organisations, and is a key organisation that exists to promote the interests of the music industry as a whole. Membership is drawn from all areas of the music business and is open to all organisations with an interest in music and its development in the UK: professional, voluntary and amateur; subsidised and commercial; creative and educational. The strength of the Council lies in the number and diversity of its members.

MISSION STATEMENT

The National Music Council seeks to celebrate and promote the value and enjoyment of music, which contributes, in all its forms, to the cultural, spiritual, educational, social and economic well-being of the United Kingdom.

AIMS

The Council's work is driven by three key aims:

1. To provide networking opportunities for Members and other stakeholders and to facilitate and improve the exchange and sharing of information of relevance to their concerns.
2. To provide a debating forum for Members and other stakeholders and the mechanisms for issues to be prioritised and, when appropriate, pursued and resolved.
3. To provide the means for informing and influencing decision-makers and those other stakeholders upon whom the music industry depends, and for raising the public profile of music.

Behind them lie several important guiding principles:

1. That the work of the Council should complement its members' own activities.
2. That the Council should recognise and promote the vital inter-relationship that exists between all industry sectors and musical genres and the mutual benefits to be derived from bringing organisations together.
3. That the Council should operate as both leader and facilitator and work on behalf of its membership as a whole.
4. That the focus of the Council should become more external without jeopardising the services required by- members.
5. That the Council should be flexible enough to be able to respond to the developing concerns and needs of its membership and those of its other stakeholders, including:
   • related organisations not in membership
   • the public
   • politicians and decision-makers

ACTIVITIES

The Council published its first three-year Strategic Plan in 2000. This plan was created by the Members of the Council and reflects needs and aspirations which were gathered through the greatest consultation exercise in the Council's history.
It sets out a three-year action plan designed to build on the Council's activities in recent years, including:

• The establishment of an annual series of lectures/debates (three per annum) through which issues of relevance can be discussed in a high-profile, public fashion.
• The expansion (to a minimum of four per annum) of the Council's programme of meetings for Members with key individuals and decision-makers.
• A commitment to undertake one major research project on an annual basis (including an update of statistical research into the economic value of the UK music industry every three years and the updating of other research previously undertaken, as appropriate).
• The development of the annual Local Education Authority and Local Authority Music Awards Scheme.
• The establishment and maintainance of an informative and interactive NMC website with hyperlinks to other relevant sites and a page devoted to each Council Member.
• The production of an annual digest of relevant research received for circulation to Council Members.
• A commitment to undertaking targeted and time-limited campaigns in response to requests from the membership, and as agreed by the Executive Committee, on those occasions when only National Music Council intervention will make a difference.
• A commitment to continuing the provision of advice, information and perspectives on a variety of issues as required by the Council's various stakeholders.

MEMBERS

The following organisations are currently National Music Council members/observers:

AIM
Arts Council of England*
Association of British Orchestras
Association of Professional Recording Services
British Academy of Composers and Songwriters
British Council*
British Music Information Centre
British Music Rights
British Phonographic Industry
Classic FM
Concert Promoters Association
Entertainment Retailers Association
Federation of Music Services
Generator
International Artist Managers' Association
International Association of Music Libraries (UK Branch)
Jazz Services
Local Government Association
Making Music
Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society
Music Education Council
Music Industries Association
Music Managers Forum
Music Publishers Association
Musicians Union
Orchestras Live (formerly Eastern Orchestral Board)
Performing Right Society
PRS Foundation
SPNM promoting new music
Sound Connections
Sound Sense
Trinity College London
Visiting Arts*

* observers

CONTACT DETAILS

Further information and copies of the Strategic Plan are available from:

The Administrator
National Music Council
60/62 Clapham Road
LONDON
SW9 0JJ

Tel: +44 (0) 870 909 2621
Fax: +44 (0) 870 706 5329
Email: info@nationalmusiccouncil.org.uk