On Tuesday, we saw arms laid down and battle lines crossed.
The UK’s biggest major record company, Universal Music, and its biggest independent, Beggars Group, joined forces to urge employees, artists and fellow execs to vote to Remain in the EU Referendum – which takes place today.
In an open letter, Universal’s David Joseph and Beggars’ Martin Mills jointly wrote that “a victory for Brexit would be economically, politically, socially and culturally disastrous – for all of us”.
The latest polls suggest they may be on the side of history, with ‘Remain’ nudging ahead of ‘Leave’ (or ‘Brexit’) – but we won’t know the history-making result until tomorrow.
As Brits flock to the ballot box to cast their vote, MBW asked a selection of the UK music business’s finest for their personal view: where are they putting their ‘X’ today?
“Myself and Secretly Group are officially IN. We will be voting to remain in Europe to preserve our easy export routes of physical stock into mainland Europe, to preserve the strength of the pound, to enable our staff and artists to easily work, travel, perform and promote their records in mainland Europe.
“We vote to remain to allow the EU to fight large corporations when it comes to anti-competition practises. We vote to remain in support of EU laws that have allowed a fair playing field for gender, race, sexual orientation and new parents in the work place.
“A vote to leave would damage our economy, cutting into the UK’s ability to enjoy recorded and live music. As a wise man once said: ‘Let’s stay together/Lovin’ you whether/Times are good or bad, happy or sad… Let’s stay together.”
Hannah Overton, General Manager, Secretly Group Europe.
“I’m IN. What has ever been achieved by less collaboration as opposed to more? Working together from the inside is the only way forward.”
Henry Semmence, Founder, Absolute Label Services
“Even in the unlikely event of there being a strong and cohesive argument to leave Europe I couldn’t ever handle giving these foolish but dangerous people any more power than they already, regrettably, have.”
Peter Thompson, MD, Play It Again Sam
“I was firmly in the Remain camp but as a result of seeing Universal’s position, I’m starting to have second thoughts…”
Daniel Miller, Chairman, Mute (and one of the biggest Europhiles we know)
“There were some caveats around harmonization, but there are always caveats when it comes to Europe and European legislation. But these are details which pale into insignificance in the face of a LEAVE result.
“My personal view is that we are in a very dangerous place. The original concept of the European Union was to bring peace to Europe, and I have a dark feeling that unless we stay in, we going to see an unraveling of tolerance and compassion, of basic humanitarian principles.
“Recent events have shown us that the human condition is fragile and it doesn’t take much to push people in a direction that has very serious consequences. I’d have a great sense of loss if we left the EU this week.”
Alison Wenham, CEO, WIN
“I’m definitely IN. I have a seat at the table for some of the Culture conversations with the EU Commission, and am generally someone who supports those less fortunate… and doesn’t read The Sun.”
Alex Branson, SVP & MD International, INgrooves
“I think [the EU] could do with a bit of reform though, and I don’t see much of a route towards that at the moment whether we are in or out.”
Jane Dyball, CEO, MPA/IMPEL
“End the politics of hate – vote love, not leave.”
Martin Goldschmidt, Chairman, Cooking Vinyl Group
“We’re a UK business, possibly about as British as you can get – reflecting buying and streaming of entertainment by British consumers, in every corner of the UK. But Britain has always been an internationalist country, with the most influential music (and chart) in the world alongside the US, thanks to a national culture built on the rich pool of talent drawn from hundreds of years of immigration and emigration – taking in influences from around the globe and sending them back out into the world again.
“The British music industry has made an indelible mark on worldwide culture through an incredible array of amazing labels, retailers, managers, artists, songwriters, producers, albums, singles etc, taking off from these shores and conquering the world. I started listing the greatest of them in my head, but didn’t know where I’d stop.
“We’ve always been outward looking as a nation. Cutting ourself off from the rest of Europe (and the world) just wouldn’t be British.”
Martin Talbot, CEO, Official Charts Company
I get to behave like a citizen of the world, working and living where I choose. And where I choose to work is in London. But (blissfully) it could be anywhere. And if we put our borders up, that’ll have to mean that we are kept in as well as others out.
“I remember the 1970s. Before the EU. When we had currency controls that meant we had to smuggle cash through customs to go on holiday. Or go and sit in a caravan in the rain in Wicklow. I remember that Michel Roux could only get olive oil from the chemist. For earache.
“The EU has taken decisions that, locally, would never have been taken. The copyright term has largely been standardised. Okay, not everywhere. Latvia still doesn’t recognise a pre-1957 copyright, I believe, and for reasons that I can’t remember; payments can’t be diverted so that if Love Me Do is played in a Tyrolean hotel, a deduction is made to help Austrian musicians.
“It still happens a bit. But not the way it did. And a Portuguese person can’t write a local lyric to Uptown Funk and claim half the copyright in Portugal.
“The key decision that the EU has made, for us, is to allow us rights owners to ‘leave’ the national monopoly collecting society: Sometimes corrupt. Often self serving. But a legalised monopoly. Nationally, they can do what they like – but not if we can leave them and go elsewhere for better or cheaper.
“The damage that’ll be done bu leaving the EU will be, for our business, slow. Very gradually, the borders will go up. The French will favour Johnny Halliday and their own TV stations. They’ll resent the fact that they are net importers of Anglo American music. The French, in music, will favour the French.
“Where I work, London, is the services capital not just of Europe but of the world. Law, banks, commercial property., accountancy, I think the arts; Certainly classical music (my only competitor is British).
“London will be hugely damaged by Brexit. Can you imagine Europe allowing its capital city to be not in Europe?
“As you might gather, I am Remain. I don’t want to go back.”
John Minch, Chief Executive, Imagem
“The EU is far from perfect but the unknowns of out are just too great.
“It’s a bit like signing an artist you have never heard play just because they are managed by Boris and Nigel – and they tell you that they are really good and will make your lots of money.
“Is anyone really that stupid? Apparently quite a few people, but hopefully not enough…”
Iain McNay, founder, Cherry Red
“Referenda are always disastrous. The only people who want them are demagogues like Boris Johnson. ( Please stop thinking of him as an amusing buffoon. He isn’t. He’s dangerous.)
“So, utterly despondent at not JUST the possibility of exiting Europe, but the murder of Jo Cox, the perilous political situations in America, Orlando, the Middle East, Africa and pretty much fuckin’ everywhere, I just felt I had to do something!
“It’s easy to make assumptions that neo-fascism is never going to spread deep into the UK but that is a wholly naive point of view given how our political landscape appears to be today in 2016. It is a genuine worry.
“I posted my fears on Facebook this weekend and was encouraged by the response. (The times I get 1,500 likes are usually only when I post anything to do with Cocteau Twins!)
“Together with Glenn Max at Village Underground, we tried to organise a show on the night of the vote which we would call Remain In Light, as a launch pad to a free festival in the summer. A massive show of defiance, of how deeply we care about what a shit hole Britain has become, of how love and humanity are not fabled concepts, a festival of music that unites and inspires us. Not some Geldof-style raising money monstrosity with the biggest fuck off bands but something that will inspire us all and show the world we aren’t just a nation of Neanderthals.
“I’ve been strongly considering reforming /remodelling Rock Against Racism and the Anti Nazi League and anything else that can stem the tide of this wave of ugliness that threatens to wash through our towns and cities.
“I was 16 when RAR and the ANL festival happened and it was momentous. Of course there was no mobile phone, Internet or social media then and the ONLY way to show opposition OR support for something was to get out on the street. Now everyone just moans on Facebook and Twitter and “protests” are therefor sadly less physically impressive.
“I fantasised about an idealistic free festival where we all just said “enough is enough” and millions of people showed up. The loudest voices in the media seem to be the most unpleasant ones, and while i don’t know how i will fare, I hope we can make this happen. Whether we leave or not.
“But well, try as we might, we just couldn’t sort this launch show in time and this morning admitted defeat. But regardless, if you care about this country and where it’s heading, you can at least help apply the brakes by voting REMAIN (IN LIGHT) today.
“Yes, and I’m not saying being in Europe is perfect but what is? My flat has a bit of damp and the wind rattles through the windows cos they don’t close properly, the bath tap dribbles hot water, but I’m not about to demolish the whole place and rip up the foundations, I’m gonna do my best to fix the problems.
“Culturally, economically, socially and importantly environmentally we WILL be worse off if we leave. The creative industries are going to suffer too, don’t think they won’t.
“Don’t let the usual apathy on voting take hold again. I get it. The last few General Elections seemed like there was absolutely nothing to vote for. But this is different.
“Remain In Light. A great album, and an apt way to approach these dark days.”
Simon Raymonde, co-founder, Bella UnionMusic Business Worldwide
