14/11/2024
Another big fanfare of missed opportunity!
When will Newcastle council look at the real grass roots issues instead of chasing big money for the few!
No one seems to be willing to say any of this and is being ignored by the media and council.
Warner Music’s Big Newcastle Plans: A Missed Opportunity for True Grassroots Support?
The recent announcement of a major partnership between Warner Music UK and the music development agency Generator has been heralded as a transformative step for the North East’s cultural sector. The proposed Warner Music Newcastle facility, set to include state-of-the-art recording studios, editing suites, podcasting spaces, and collaborative areas, aims to make Newcastle a hub for creative industries, attracting investment and providing new opportunities for musicians, producers, and filmmakers.
Local and regional leaders have enthusiastically welcomed the plans, describing them as a huge win for the city. Councillor Karen Kilgour, the leader of Newcastle City Council, praised the initiative as an "accessible route into the industry" for budding artists, while North East Mayor Kim McGuinness highlighted the project as part of a broader vision to put the region on the global music map. Even Coun Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, framed the move as a vital step towards establishing the North East as a creative powerhouse, alongside a £450 million film studio development in Sunderland.
A Corporate Dream, but What About the Community?
However, beyond the buzzwords and headline-grabbing promises, there’s a growing sense of discontent among those working at the grassroots level of Newcastle’s music scene. While corporate investment may bring high-profile projects, there are real concerns that this top-down approach fails to acknowledge or support the existing community-driven initiatives that have been working for years to nurture local talent—particularly in underfunded areas of the city.
In the West End of Newcastle, a grassroots effort is underway to launch a music academy aimed specifically at teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds. The project, led by David McGovern looking to use local musicians and educators, will include a recording studio and will offers practical workshops on every aspect of the music industry, from production and performance to marketing and management. The academy’s mission is simple: to provide real opportunities for young people who have limited access to music education and industry connections.
Unlike the Warner Music project, this initiative isn’t backed by millions of pounds of corporate funding or the promise of flashy facilities. It’s driven by the needs of the local community, using resources already embedded in Newcastle’s cultural fabric. Yet, despite its potential to transform the lives of teenagers who might otherwise slip through the cracks, this grassroots effort has received no support from local authorities or major industry players.
Ignoring the Real Crisis: Music Education in Decline.
The fanfare surrounding the Warner Music project has overshadowed a deeper, systemic issue: the decline of music education in our schools. Years of budget cuts have seen music programmes gutted, leaving many teenagers without any formal exposure to music until they encounter community-led projects like the planned academy in the West End. The future of the North East’s music scene depends not just on shiny new studios but on nurturing a love for music from a young age, providing access to instruments, and making music lessons available in schools—particularly in the most underfunded parts of the city.
The irony is hard to ignore: while corporate executives fly in to discuss multi-million-pound investments, local teenagers are left without basic access to music education. If the goal is to make Newcastle a true “Music City,” the focus should be on rebuilding the foundation first, starting with the grassroots initiatives that have been quietly keeping the scene alive.
A Call for Inclusive Investment
Councillors and industry leaders have framed the Warner Music project as a solution to the region’s so-called "brain drain," aiming to prevent young talent from leaving the North East. Yet, this narrative often overlooks the existing projects that are already working to keep talent local by providing practical training and opportunities in the heart of the community.
Rather than directing all resources and attention to high-profile corporate ventures, it’s time for Newcastle City Council, the North East Combined Authority, and industry giants like Warner Music to take a broader, more inclusive approach. By investing in grassroots projects, particularly those in underfunded areas, they can support the real beating heart of the local music scene.
It’s time to listen to the community and prioritise the needs of local musicians, educators, and young people who are doing the work on the ground. The Warner Music facility may promise a new era for Newcastle’s music scene, but true transformation will only come when investment reaches the grassroots level, supporting the projects that have been here all along.
If we want to see the next Sam Fender or Nadine Shah rise from the streets of Newcastle, it won’t be because of a shiny new corporate studio—it will be because we invested in our community, brought music back into our schools, and gave every young person the opportunity to disOfficial UK ChartslBeyond VinyltBeyond Records Beyond Music Academy NEeNewcastle ChronicleoWarner Music UKrNewcastle City CounciliBBC NewsCBBC NewcastleVinyl Beyond Records Beyond Music Academy NE Newcastle Chronicle Warner Music UK Newcastle City Council BBC News BBC Newcastle
