Masterminds of Music City plan are revealed
THE very first Cardiff Music Board has been unveiled.
One of Wales’ top radio DJs, the frontman of a popular local band and the director of a leading community music charity are among the 22 members of the board, revealed ahead of its first meeting in December.
The establishment of a music board was one of the key recommendations made in a report written by world-leading music consultancy Sound Diplomacy into music in Cardiff. It will be tasked with championing the city’s music scene, protecting and promoting music at grassroots and all levels, and developing Cardiff’s Music Strategy.
The Music City report, commissioned by Cardiff Council, took a year to compile and saw Sound Diplomacy – which helps cities deliver economic growth, investment and cultural development through music – speak with hundreds of people working across Cardiff’s music industry.
The members of the board, which will be chaired by Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas, have been picked to reflect the social diversity of the city and represent multiple areas of Cardiff’s music sector, including grassroots music venues, arena operators, promoters, journalists, a Musicians’ Union representative, tourism experts, music business educators, community music organisations, public funders, artists, DJs and producers.
Cllr Thomas believes the creation of the board “is a critical next step in delivering the Music Strategy we published earlier this year”.
He said: “Our ambition is to transform Cardiff into the first UK city where music is incorporated into its structure – that means everything from planning and licensing to social wellbeing and tourism.
“Cardiff is a city full of artists, musicians, singers, producers, sound engineers and, of course, music lovers. That passion for music was reflected in the volume and quality of applications we received from people wanting to collaborate as part of the music board and to drive forward a music strategy that maximises the economic and social value of music, and plays a key role in our wider ambitions to further expand the city’s already impressive creative and digital sectors.”
Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor Peter Bradbury, believed a “real opportunity” exists for the music sector and economy to grow.
He said: “Cardiff’s creative sector already employs around
15,000 people and generates over £1bn of value for the local economy – and the UK’s live music sector, and the number of jobs it supports, is growing.
“There’s a real opportunity here for our music sector and for the wider city economy, and with the wideranging skills and experience of the newly-appointed Music Board members, Cardiff’s well-placed to make the most of those opportunities – including the development of an annual signature event that will elevate Cardiff, and indeed Wales’ cultural presence internationally.
“It’s an exciting time to be creative in Cardiff and we’re looking forward to working with the board to make our city a genuine music city.”
Speaking about her appointment to the board, Radio Wales presenter Bethan Elfyn said Cardiff had shaped her cultural life.
“It’s a huge honour to be invited to join the Cardiff Music Board. Cardiff’s music scene has affected every part of my life and changed many a trajectory,” she said.
“I fell in love with the city through the music scene and its creative community back in the ‘90s. From working part-time at Spillers, to serving behind the bar in Clwb, raving at the Hippo Club, moshing at Metros, to more recently seeing it as a DJ, promoter, and broadcaster – Cardiff has changed a lot, but there’s never been a lull in the pace and energy that music brings to the city.
“I look forward to supporting strategy, collaborating and hearing new ideas and plans for developing and working together to build on this gateway for Welsh music.”
Shain Shapiro, president of Sound Diplomacy, believed the implementation of the board was a “milestone” for the city.
“Cardiff’s implementation of the music board is the first milestone of moving forward with the process of the music strategy,” he said.
“Remember, a music strategy is a process, not a race. It is now part of city governance, like anything else.
“The development of the board will help continue to drive forward the recommendations together, which we look forward to supporting in whatever way we can.”