Fears a generation of music artists could be lost
A LEADING figure on the North East music scene has warned that an entire generation of artists could be lost in the region as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Set up in 1991, the Newcastle-based music and business agency Generator supports North East musicians, freelancers, and growing businesses within the creative digital and tech sector.
While parts of the region’s tech sector have coped well and even flourished through the pandemic, Generator chief executive Hannah Matterson has warned that the Covid-19 crisis threatens to wipe out a whole generation of music practitioners.
Last October, Generator was one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country given funding through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to help those facing the challenges of coronavirus.
But many in the industry have not been able to access any financial support, putting huge pressure on artists, musicians and all other workers involved in the industry, such as technicians and tour staff.
With music venues and other live event institutions facing a long wait to reopen as part of the Government’s four-step plan to ease England’s lockdown, Ms Matterson says the North East must step up to support the arts industry.
She said: “A lot of people are getting into other creative ways to make money during the lockdown but not everyone can. We know anecdotally that some are giving up music and having to find other ways to pay the bills, and that’s totally understandable. It’s about survival.
“Around a third of the artists we work with have had to take up new lines of work – if they didn’t already – and have, or are considering, stopping creating all together.
“The Government simply has not provided enough support to the individual artists. We had a part of the Culture Recovery Fund but we can’t pay people’s bills.
It’s really disappointing and awful to see that and makes me furious. And it’s really difficult because we want to be able to help.
“It’s a shame because the North East has such a rich music heritage and if we lose a whole generation of that it will be devastating. I don’t think it will happen but we are certainly running a risk.
“We all want to be back in a hot and sticky club, watching live music, thinking you’re about to pass out from the heat, and while musicians can’t get in front of audiences it doesn’t stop them from creating.
“There are still opportunities to record and release music online, and it’s great to see people have not lost their creativity.
“So bulk up your record collections, buy more band T-shirts, buy tickets for forthcoming events, or make donations to watch live streams of bands online. Do whatever you can to help the industry until it can get back on its feet. It will keep them going.”
She said Generator’s work with the tech industry, through its Digital Union offshoot, had increased greatly. At the start of the pandemic it made membership to the body free, and it has now quadrupled member numbers to 570.
Ms Matterson added: “It’s not all plain sailing for the digital creatives. The problem in lockdown for them is the isolation – a lot of workers feel very lonely and that they are having to deal with a lot on their own.
“But with the digital creatives the thing that has served them well is that they have been able to adapt. That’s harder to do within the music industry but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s a very close-knit community and people will never give up. And there will always be people willing to help and because of that you have to have hope.”