Why Radio 3's Cuts Are Wrong: 550+ Artists & More Sign Letter To The BBC | The Quietus

Why Radio 3’s Cuts Are Wrong: 550+ Artists & More Sign Letter To The BBC

Hundreds of musicians, curators, academics and more, from Brian Eno to Nitin Sawhney, Shirley Collins to Stewart Lee and Roisin Murphy, sign an open letter to the BBC about their disastrous cuts to their scheduling

Last week, the BBC announced that it would be cutting back on its evening schedule as part of a cost-saving exercise, with Late Junction reduced to one programme a week, both Jazz Now and Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz are being ‘rested’, and Music Planet, devoted to music from across the globe, cut by half. tQ co-ed Luke Turner wrote about why this is a disaster for experimental music for The Guardian here and Richard Foster explored how the decision is a failure of public broadcasting here. Words work best with numbers behind them however, and over the weekend composer Mira Calix and writers Jude Rogers and Joe Muggs, with assistance from Luke, put together an open letter to the BBC asking them to rethink this short-sighted decision. The letter, signed by hundreds of artists, musicians, curators, music industry honchos, actors, and more, can be read with full signatures below. If you would like to help the campaign, please share this article on social media tagging @BBCradio3, or leave a comment about the changes on this BBC page here. You can also sign petitions here and here.

Signatories include hugely well-known people in their fields like Shirley Collins, Jarvis Cocker, Kieran Hebden, Peaches, Cleveland Watkiss, Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway from Radiohead, Brian Eno, Colin Mathews OBE, Shabaka Hutchings, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Gabriel, Nikki Yeoh, Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, Nitin Sawnhey CBE, the Waterson-Carthy family, Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory, Issie Barrett, grime stars Scrufizzer and Grandmixxer, Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite, Kit Downes, Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip, Holly Herndon and Portishead’s Adrian Utley. They include hugely exciting rising stars like Gazelle Twin, Lisa O’Neill, Seckou Keita, Hannah Peel, Joshua Idehen, Alex Neilson, Lori Watson and Laura Cannell, among many others. They include managers and creative directors of national institutions like the Edinburgh Festival, Sound UK, WOMAD and the London Borough of Culture, huge venues like London’s Roundhouse, and local powerhouses like Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan. Label bosses like Laurence Bell of Domino, and Jeannette Lee and Geoff Travis from Rough Trade (who called the decisions “a national travesty”) are also in. International pioneers like composer Laurie Spiegel and early Kraftwerk collaborator Emil Schult lent their passionate support, too.

You can read the letter and see the full list of those who signed it below:

To:


Alan Davey, Controller, BBC Radio 3

Edward Blakeman, commissioning and programme editor, BBC Radio 3

James Purnell, BBC Director of Radio

We are 559 music-lovers, musicians, artists, curators, record label owners, venue owners, festival programmers and critics writing to protest the dramatic cuts to Radio 3’s programming of specialist music. These have been made, in the words of Alan Davey in his blog about the Autumn scheduling plans, to “enhance the distinctive nature of the network”. The opposite is happening: the truly distinctive parts of the network are being dismantled.

British jazz is experiencing a renaissance. Thrilling folk acts are attracting broader audiences. Electronic and experimental music is thriving, and boundaries between genres, mediums and scenes are being dissolved and swirled into ever more exciting permutations. But in the month of its sold-out festival in London, the brilliant Late Junction, which supports new and existing artists from the worlds of experimental music, folk, jazz and beyond, is being reduced from three shows a week to one. Jazz Now and Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz are being ‘rested’. Music Planet, Radio 3’s only dedicated programme exploring music from around the world, is being moved to a post-midnight slot, and having its running time cut by half. The cuts are obvious. And while we welcome the adventurous and unique format of Unclassified, it only has an hour in the schedules. It is not enough.

The remit of BBC Radio 3 is explicit: to appeal to listeners of any age seeking to expand their cultural horizons through engagement with the world of music and the arts. The disappearance of the programmes above – fertile, adventurous spaces showcasing the creativity and diversity of many genres – goes against the remit entirely.

Our culture benefits so much from these programmes. Music-lovers tune to make new discoveries and build new creative communities. Music-makers rely on these shows as lifelines to support and share their music with enthusiastic audiences, both nationally and internationally. New works and unexpected collaborations have happened either directly or indirectly due to these shows. This flourishing cultural ecosystem will be damaged, and musicians’ careers profoundly affected, as opportunities for their work to be experienced by the mainstream at home and abroad will be drastically reduced.

We urge Radio 3 to think again about how the changes they are making will profoundly affect the broader cultural landscape. The BBC’s enduring principles – to inform, educate, and entertain – live and breathe in the shows they are pulling apart.

List of Signees:

Aaron Coultate – editor-in-Chief, Resident Advisor

Dr Aaron Einbond – senior lecturer, Department of music – Composition
Coordinator – MA Programme Director, Admissions & Technology – City – University of London

Adam Ronchetti – musician / percussionist (Hickory Signals)

Adam Sweeting – journalist

Adrian Lever – musician

Adrian McNally – composer, pianist and producer (The Unthanks)

Adrian Utley – musician

Aidan Moffat – musician

Aidan O’Rourke – musician

Aisling Iris – vocalist/composer

Al English – musician / manager

Alan Bearman – music agent / Festival organiser

Alan Sparhawk – musician (Low)

Alasdair Roberts – musician

Alastair Letch – carpenter

Alastair Putt – composer / singer

Alec Finlay – poet

Alec Johnson – educational administrator

Aleks Sierz – journalist

Alex Hall – In House Press / music PR

Alex Kapranos – musician

Alex Murray Leslie – artist / Professor of Fine Art / musician (Chicks on Speed)

Alex Neilson – musician

Alex Spiers – artist (Bonnacons of Doom)

Alexander Tucker – artist (solo / Grumbling Fur)

Alexandra Coughlan – writer

Alexia Menikou – arts producer

Alexis Taylor – musician

Alison Cotton – musician (The Left Outsides)

Alya Al-Sultani – singer / label Founder, South London Space Agency

Amanda Jones – label manager, Real World records

Amy Kohn – composer

Andre Bosman – musician

Andrea Parker – artist / DJ / label Owner

Andreas Berthling – musician (Tape)

Andrew Cartmel – freelance writer

Andrew Grassie – artist

Andrew Moss – label manager, Melodic records

Andrew Poppy – composer / musical Performer

Andrew Spackman – musician / lecturer

Andrew Wilson – curator

Andy Holden – artist / musician

Angèle David-Guillou – composer

Angharad Jenkins – musician

Angus Andrew – artist (Liars)

Angus Carlyle – Professor of Sound & Landscape, UAL

Angus Farquhar – Creative Director – Aproxima

Angus Peter Campbell – Gaelic writer

Anna Kiff – artist

Anna Palmer – programme assistant at Capsule Events

Anna Snow – singer


Anna Vermehren – freelance producer

Annalaura Palma – picture researcher

Anthony Caveney – television producer

Anthony Chalmers – promoter

Anthony Child – musician (Surgeon)

Antye Greie – AGF Audio Sculptress

Arun Sethi – A&R / music Publisher

Ashley Elliott – MD, The White Wall Company Ltd

Asif Khan – architect

Autumn Richardson – musician / poet

Babak Ganjei – artist

Barney Harsent – writer / DJ

Barry Adamson – musician

Beatrice Dillon – musician

Ben Ayres – Rough Trade & Cornershop

Ben Corrigan – composer / Podcaster

Ben Fair – musician

Ben Frost – musician

Ben Jacob – musician (Max Tundra)

Ben Lancaster – Director, Stylo

Ben Webb – singer / musician / Songwriter (GF*M records)

Ben Wileman – GM, Wichita recordings

Benedict Drew – artist

Benjamin Duvall – composer / musician

Bill Laurance – musician / composer

Bill Thompson – musician / curator / lecturer

Billy Bragg – singer-Songwriter / Activist

Bob Stanley – writer / musician

Bomi Seo – musician / artist

Bradley Kulisic – founder, Singing Light music

Brían Mac Gloinn – musician (Ye Vagabonds)

Brian Eno – musician

Brian Sampson – musician

Brighde Chaimbeul – musician

Brigid Mae Power – musician

Calum Innes – artist

Carin Abdulá – agent

Carlito Juanito – musician / artist

Caroline Bergvall – artist / Vocal Performer

Caroline Newport – Barrister

Caroline Poulton – Out Promotions

Caroline Smith Arts Consultant & Creative producer

Cassie Liversidge – Author

Catrin Finch – musician

Charles Bullen – musician

Charles Hayward – musician

Charles Hazlewood – Conductor

Charly Richardson – musician


Chris Carter – experimental musician/Performer

Chris Eckman – label manager / Co-Pwner, Glitterbeat & tak:til records

Chris Gillard – Head Chef, EartH Kitchen N16

Chris Jacobs – General manager, Sub Pop

Chris Joynes – musician

Chris Pentney – folk music agent

Chris Reeder – Rocket recordings

Chris Roberts – Senior manager, Business Affairs – Real World records

Christopher Fox – Professor of music, Department of Arts and Humanities – Brunel University

Christopher Tignor – musician

Ciara Phillips – artist

Claire Leadbitter – manager

Claire M singer – artist and artistic Director of Organ Reframed at Union Chapel

Claire MacDonald – arts writer, Thinker in Residence at the Live Art Development Agency

Claire Martin OBE – vocalist

Dr Claudia Molitor – composer, artist, Senior lecturer at City – University of London

Cleveland Watkiss MBE – voice professor, Trinity Laban Conservatoire

Colin Irwin – music writer and playwright

Colin Matthews – OBE composer & Founder / Executive Director of NMC recordings

Colin Newman – (Wire) musician, producer, label boss

Colin Riley – composer

Conrad Shawcross – artist

Cosey Fanni Tutti – musician – artist

Craig Armstrong – composer

Craig Barnes – artist

Craig Wylie – music agent

Cyril Secq – musician

Dan Harper – musician (Invisible System)

Dani Admiss – curator

Daniel Brant – musician

Daniel John Jones – artist

Daniel Miller – Founder and Chairman of Mute

Daniel O’Sullivan – musician / artist

Dave Howell A&R / label manager, Fat Cat records

Dave Stapleton – record label owner

Dave Swift – bassist with Jools Holland Orchestra

David Agnew Director – Manchester folk Festival

David Brewis – musician (Field Music)

David De Winter – singer

David Keenan – author

David Sheppard – Sound Designer / musician

David Stubbs – music journalist and author

David Thomas Broughton – musician

Dennis Rollins – musician, composer

Derek Walmsley – editor. The Wire

Diarmuid Mac Gloinn – musician (Ye Vagabonds)

Diego Ferrari – artist

Dilwyn Davies – Chief Executive, Theatr Mwldan

Dionne Griffith – arts consultant

Dom Aversino – musician

Donald Johnson – musician, A Certain Ratio

Donna Lynas – Director, Wysing Arts Centre and Wysing Polyphonic Festival

Doris Woo – DJ / Solicitor

Dr John Butcher – Improviser / composer

Duncan Ballantyne – Director Ballantyne Communications

Ed O’Brien – musician (Radiohead)

Eddie Peake – artist

Ed Handley – musician (Plaid)

Ela Orleans – composer / PhD candidate in music at the University of Glasgow

Electric Indigo / Susanne Kirchmaye – DJ / Techno producer / composer

Eleonora Oreggia – artist

Eliza Carthy MBE – musician

Elizabeth Bernholz – composer / Performer (Gazelle Twin)

Elizabeth Lawes – Librarian, Slade School of Fine Art – University College London

Dr Ella Finer – Sound artist / Researcher

Elliot Galvin – musician / composer

Emika – musician / composer

Emil Schult – artist, musician

Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – composer / pianist

Emily Hall – composer

Emily Jones – Head of Programming, Cheltenham Jazz Festival and chair, Jazz Promotion Network

Emily Riddle – Assistant curator, The Hepworth Wakefield

Emily Wood – Content producer, Social Media & Festival Site Design – WOMAD Festival

Emma Daman Thomas – musician (Islet)

Emma Ford – music Supervisor

Emma Thomspson – Director of Fat Out, Co-Director of Samarbata

Eric Chenaux – musician

Erland Cooper – composer / musician / artist

Eska – artist / producer

Esther Tewkesbury – manager of Stick In The Wheel, Sales Director of Kartel Music Group

Femi Adeyemi – NTS Founder & Co-CEO

Felix Thorn – musician / artist

Fielding Hope – Senior producer, Cafe OTO / Co-curator, Counterflows Festival

Fiona Owen – musician / writer

Florence Hallett – freelance writer / Critic

Fran Matthews – Director of Awards & Membership – BASCA

Frances Morgan – music critic

Franz Kirmann – musician

Fred Frith – musician / teacher

Gary Carpenter – composer / Professor of Composition, RNCM Manchester and Royal Academy of music London / BASCA Director
Gary Crosby OBE – Hon FTL musician, creative producer, educator – co-founder & artistic director, Tomorrow’s Warriors

Gavin Lindsay – Designer

Gavin Mee – Founder of Syncsmith

Geoff Travis – Joint Managing editor, Rough Trade records

George Barnett – musician (These New Puritans)

Gerry Diver – musician / producer / composer

Glenn Boulte – artistic Director, Full of Noises Festival

Gorwel Owen – musician

Graham Dowdall – musician

Graham Dunning – artist / musician

Graham McKenzie – artistic Director HCMF, Huddersfield Contemporary music

Graham Rickson – music teacher / critic

Graham Sutton – producer

Grandmixxer – DJ / producer

Gudrun Gut – electronica producer

Hannah Peel – musician / composer

Hannah White – artist

Hannah Petter – Promotions Coordinator, (Warp records)

Harriet Simms – Glass Ceiling PR, Specialist music PR / Event producer

Hartwin Dhoore – folk musician

Hatis Noit – musician

Heather Phillipson – artist

Heather Taylor – artist representative

Heidi Heidelberg – musician / composer (Bitch N Monk)

Heike Roms – Professor

Helena Turgel – marketing manager / Visual Arts Programme manager, Theatr Mwldan

Héloïse Werner – musician

Henry Ward – Creative Director

Hillary Stafford-Clarke – associate editor, Cornucopia magazine

Holly Herndon – artist

Howard Male – Author / journalist

Hugh Mulholland – senior curator, MAC Belfast

Iain Pate – arts producer

Ian Anderson – musician / editor, fRoots magazine

Dr Ian Pace – Senior lecturer / Head of Performance, Department of music – City – University of London

Ian Rankin – writer

Ian Stonehouse – Head of Electronic music Studios, Goldsmiths College

Igor Toryoni-Lalic – Director – London Contemporary Music Festival

Ilka Schlockermann – music publicist , ilkamedia

Irene Revell – curator / Director,Electra

Issie Barratt composer and Director of BASCA – Fuzzy Moon records & National Youth Jazz Collective

Ivo Neame – Professor Of Jaa Piano, Guildhall School of Music and Drama – Principal lecturer in Jazz – Leeds College of Music, pianist / composer

Iwona Blazwick – Director, Whitechapel Gallery

Jack Barnett – These New Puritans, musician

James Bulley – artist / composer

James Fagan – professional singer, music Tutor – Newcastle University

James Ginzburg – musician (Emptyset)

James Heather – musician

James Holden – musician

James Johnston – press officer

James Liversidge – primary school teacher

James Mainwaring – saxophonist and lecturer at Leeds College of Music

James Saunders – composer


James Week – composer / artistic director of EXAUDI

Jane Beese – head of music, Roundhouse

Jane-Ann Purdy – band manager/ Festival Programmer / Promoter

Janine Irons MBE – FRSA artist Development/Creative producer/Co-Founder & Chief Executive – Tomorrow’s Warriors

Jarvis Cocker – musician

Jason Yarde – composer / producer / Arranger / musician

Jasper Høiby – musician / composer

Jasper Rees – author / journalist

JD Twitch – DJ / producer (Optimo Espacio)

Jeanette Leech – music writer

Jeannette Lee – joint MD, Rough Trade records

Jem Finer – musician

Jen Kirby – composer / performer

Jennifer Walshe – artist / composer

Jess Arrowsmith – musician / music educator

Jez Kerr – musician, A Certain Ratio

Jez Riley French – Sound artist

Jill Magid – artist / writer

Jim Ghedi – musician

Jim Hickson – ethnomusicologist / journalist

Jim Moray – musician

Jimmy Holliday – singer

Jo Frost – editor, Songlines

Jo Ross – Director, Oxford Contemporary Music

Joan Shelley – musician

Joana Seguro – label manager (Noton / Subtext), Art Klang Management / Consultant

Joe Hatt – artist manager

Joe Kennedy – lecturer / author

Joe Muggs – writer / DJ

Joel McIver – editor of Bass Guitar and Bass Player magazines

Johan Berthling – musician (Fire Orchestra – Tape)

Johann Diedrick – artist

John Burton – musician

John Crosby – writer / music PR

John Doran – writer, editor & co-founder of The Quietus

John Foxx – artist

John Liversidge – retired

John O’Carroll – Rocket recordings record label CEO
John Rostron – Association of Independent Promoters – Welsh Music Prize
John Stevens – Qu Junktions Agency

John Tejada – musician

Jon Boden – musician

Jon Collin – musician

Jon Mueller – percussionist / publisher

Dr Jonathan Cole FRCM – Area Leader in Postgraduate Composition – Royal College of Music

Jonathan Pearson – Director, Islander music

Jonathan Reekie CBE – Director of Somerset House Trust

Jonny Bridgwood – musician

Joshua Idehen – poet / dramatist / musician (Benin City / Hugh)

Dr. Jude Cowan Montague – artist and journalist


Jude Rogers – music journalist / writer / broadcaster

Julia Kent – musician

Juliet Fraser – singer

Jussy Brightmore – musician (Gum Takes Tooth)

Justin Hibbs – artist

Karon Hepburn – gallery director

Kate Hutchinson – journalist

Kate MacGarry – director, Kate MacGarry Ltd

Kathryn Williams – singer-songwriter

Katie Puckrik – broadcaster

Kavus Torabi – musician / composer / broadcaster

Kay Watson – digital curator, Serpentine Gallery

Keiron Tyler – author / journalist

Kendra Frost – musician

Dr. Kerry Andrew – musician
Kerstan Mackness – PR – label director and artist manager (The Comet is Coming – Portico Quartet and GoGo Penguin)
Khyam Allami – musician

Kieran Hebden – musician (Four Tet)

Kit Downes – musician

Koen Dhoore – folk musician

Lara Rix Martin – (Objects Ltd records)

Laura Barton – writer and broadcaster

Laura Cannell – performer / composer

Laura Ward – singer / musician / Songwriter (Hickory Signals)

Lauren Kelly – director, Sean Kelly Gallery

Lauren Spiceley – music Programmer / musician

Laurence Bell – label Founder, Domino recording Co.

Laurence Crane – composer

Laurie Spiegel – composer

Lee Gamble – musician

Levin Haegele – photographer

Liam Noble – pianist / composer / Educator

Liran Donin – musician / producer

Lisa Knapp – singer / Songwriter / musician / composer

Lisa Meyer – curator – Supersonic Festival

Lisa O’Neill – musician

Liz Thomson – journalist

Dr Lori Watson – musician and lecturer in Scottish Ethnology – University of Edinburgh

Lou Barnell – artist / Facilitator / curator

Louis Andriessen – composer

Louise Gray – writer / Academic

Lucy Dunce – Potter

Lucy Goddard – singer

Lucy Railton – musician

Luke Drozd – artist / label Owner

Luke Fowler – Filmmaker / musician

Luke Turner – Author / Co-founder – The Quietus

Magnus af Petersens – Museum Director – Bonniers Konsthall

Maija Handover – Director – Sound UK

Malcolm Middleton – musician

Manni Dee – musician / DJ

Mara Carlyle – musician

Marcus O’Dair – Academic / musician

Marcus Scott – label manager (Hyperdub)

Marina Vaizey – writer

Mark Ayres – composer / Performer

Mark Beazley – musician / Independent record label Owner

Mark Carlin – Executive producer – York Mediale & Director Sound of the City

Mark Daman Thomas – musician (Islet)

Mark Holub – musician

Mark Kidel – Filmmaker / writer

Mark Lockheart – musician / composer

Mark Nicholas – musician (The Left Outsides)

Mark O Pilkington – publisher (Strange Attractor) / musician (Teleplasmiste)

Marry Waterson – musician

Martin Carthy MBE – musician

Martin Moscrop – musician (A Certain Ratio)

Martyn Heyne – musician

Mata Michalowska – Director, The Wapping Project / Arts producer

Mathew Dryhurst – artist

Matt Ashton – musician (The Leaf Library)

Matt Baty – musician

Matt Gilford – marketing manager, WOMAD Festival

Matt Osborne – marketing consultant, Real World records

Matt Price – writer / editor

Matthew Baker – online music metailer (Bleep)

Mauricio Velasierra – musician / composer (Bitch N Monk)

Melissa Taylor – artist manager /publicist

Michael Keeney – composer / arranger

Michael Muller – musician

Michael Newman – Professor of art writing, Goldsmiths College

Michael Newport – barrister

Mike Chadwick – jazz broadcaster and artist manager

Mike Flynn – editor – Jazzwise

Mike Harding – label / publisher (Touch)

Mike Paradinas – record label owner / musician

Milo Smee – musician / electrician

Mimi Parker – musician (Low)

Mira Calix – artist / composer

Mischa Haller – Photographer

Monica Germino – musician

Nadine Shah – musician

Natalia Franklin Pierce – artist development projects manager, LSO

Natalie Sharp – composer / Performer

Nathan Salsburg – musician / Alan Lomax Archive curator

Nathaniel Cramp – Sonic Cathedral records


Nathaniel Mann – musician / composer

Neil Blanket – Head of marketing – Mute

Neil Kulkarni – writer / Teacher / musician

Neil McSweeney – Hudson records / University of Sheffield Department of music

Nic Tasker – DJ / record label owner (Whities)

Dr Nicholas Melia – Archivist

Nicholas Page – musician / producer

Nicholas Sharp – Art Lawyer

Nick Castell – musician

Nick Mulvey – musician

Nick Smart – Head of Jazz – Royal Academy of music

Nicola Kearey – artist / record label Owner

Nigel Bryant – musician / Radio Presenter / producer

Nigel Hurst – Head of Contemporary Arts, The Box

Nik Void – musician / artist

Nikki Yeoh – musician – composer – Ambassador for Camden music Hub – Director of Jazz at Camden Saturday music Centre

Nina Miranda – singer / Songwriter / producer

Nitin Sawhney CBE – composer / producer

Norma Waterson MBE – musician

Nwando Ebizie – multimedia artist

Okkyung Lee – cellist / Improviser / composer

Oliver Ho – musician

Oliver Knight – musician / rngineer

Olivia Chaney – musician

Olli Dutton – Radio Plugger, Obscene Strategies

Oran Mullan Digital manager – Real World records

Oren Ambarchi – musician / Independent label Owner

Orphy Robinson MBE – musician / composer

Owen Richards – writer / filmmaker / musician / Presenter

Paddy Shine – musician (Gnod)

Paul A Taylor – Art Director – Mute records

Paul Geoghegan – Publishing Director, Gramophone, Jazzwise & Songlines magazines

Paul Noble – artistic Director, Spiritland

Peaches – musician

Penelope Trappes – musician

Penny King – arts programmer

Pete Paphides – music journalist / Broadcaster

Peter Broderick – musician

Peter Culshaw – author / journalist

Peter Gabriel – musician

Peter Liversidge – artist

Phil Hebblethwaite – freelance music journalist

Phil Jupitus – comedian

Philip Selway – musician (Radiohead)

Philippa Ronald – screen writer

Phoebe Roberts – performer / composer

Polly Eldridge – co-director, Sound UK

Prof John Drever – Co-Head of the Unit for Sound Practice Research, Goldsmiths – University of London

Professor Dr Tommy Smith OBE – musician / Educator / producer

Professor Joanna MacGregor OBE FRAM – Head of Piano, Royal Academy of music

Professor Stuart Nicholson – writer / Academic

Rachel Millar – manager – Shabaka Hutchings

Rachel Unthank – musician

Rebecca Morrill – Commissioning editor (Art) Phaidon

Rhodri Davies – musician

Richard Dawson – musician

Richard Forster – artist

Richard Ingleby – gallery owner

Richard Norris – musician

Richard Skelton – musician

Richard Youngs – musician

Rivca Burns – director of Sounds for the Other City Festival, Programmer at Mancherster International Festival

Rob Booth – Houndstooth / fabric

Rob Hadrill – Co-Director, Bookworks

Rob Harbron – musician

Rob St John – musician – artist

Dr Rob Strachan – Senior lecturer in music – University of Liverpool

Rob Young – writer

Robert Raths – Founder, Erased Tapes

Robin Hayward – tuba player and composer

Robin Rimbaud AKA Scanner – musician

Robin Turner – Turner Hall PR

Róisín Murphy – musician

Roly Porter – artist / musician

Roshi Nasehi – musician

Ruby Wood – musician

Rut Blees – artist

Ryan Oxley – record label Promotions

Sakiko Kohashi – lecturer – Central St Martins

Sam Hunt – Creative Director London Borough of Culture

Sam Lee – folk musician

Sam Underwood – musical Instrument Designer

Sam Valenti IV – Founder – Ghostly International

Sam Wiehl – Visual artist / musician (Bonnacons of Doom)

Samira Hamid Sharifu – DJ / writer / curator

Sandra Podmore – manager – Can / Irmin Schmidt

Sara Kenney – Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow

Sarah Angliss – composer / Performer

Sarah Coxson – booking agent – Alan Bearman music

Sarah Dacey – composer / musician

Sarah Davachi – musician

Sarah Gillespie – singer-Songwriter

Sarah Hughes – composer

Sarah Nicolls – musician

Sarah Strang – director, Civic Room Glasgow

Sarah Washington – radio artist / musician

Saskia Baron – journalist / TV producer

Scott Morgan – musician (Loscil)

Scrufizzer – musician

Sean Booth – musician (Autechre)

Sean Clancy – Senior lecturer in music – BMus Composition Coordinator – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Sean McAuliffe, NTS Co-CEO

Sebastian Gainsborough – musician

Sebastian Rochford – musician

Sebastian Scotney – Jazz Critic

Seckou Keita – musician

Selina Fellows – Commercial Creative Consultant

Serafina Steer – musician

Shabaka Hutchings – musician

Shaun Hendry – head of copyright, Bucks music Group LTD


Shelly Love – Film Director

Shirley Collins MBE – President – English folk Dance & Song Society / folk singer / Author

Sid Newman – Bleep X manager

Simon Ballard – music Publisher (Mute Song)
Simon Emmerson – record producer and band leader – Afro Celt Sound System and the The Imagined Village

Simon Fisher Turner – composer/musician

Simon Raymonde – MD – Bella Union

Simon Whiteley – singer

Siné Buyuka – Founder – Injazero records

Siobhan Squire – artist manager/producer

Sliz Gillard – Creative producer

Sofia Laing – writer

Sophie Cooper – music Teacher

Sorcha Carey – Director – Edinburgh Art Festival

Spencer Grady – Production editor – Jazzwise

Spencer Stephenson – musician

Stefania Bonelli – Designer

Stephen Bass – label Founder – Moshi Moshi / PRAH

Stephen Cottrell – Associate Dean Professor of Music, City, University of London

Stephen Hindman – musician (The Golden Filter)

Stephen Ives – Director – Eastville Project Space

Stephen Mallinder – artist

Stephen O’Malley – composer

Stephen Shiell – artist

Stephen Walsh – music Critic / musicologist

Steve Hunt – Press Officer – The Sidmouth folk Festival


Steve Lawson – musician / Academic

Steve Garrington – musician (Low)

Steve Malins – Random music management

Stewart Lee – comedian / broadcaster / writer

Stuart Braithwaite – musician (Mogwai)

Stuart Hyatt – artist

Tadeo Lopez-Sandon – co-director, music hackspace

Tamsin Davies – Head of marketing and communications – Theatr Mwldan

Taron Allison – freelance sound recordist

Taz Modi – musician

Teho Teardo – musician

Terry Edwards – musician

Terry O’Brien – agent / Founder of English folk Expo

Thomas H Green – writer / editor / Events Promoter

Thomas Lancaster – Creative Director

Thomas Stone – musician

Tim Burgess – musician / label Head at O Genesis recordings

Tim Chipping – Co-Managing Director – River Lea records

Tim Cummings – poet / filmmaker / journalist

Tim Hand – concert programmer / live sound engineer

Tim Smith-Laing – writer / arts critic

Toby Litt – novelist / lyricist

Toby Jones – actor

Tom Besford – Chief Executive – English folk Expo

Tom Hodge – musician

Tom Pryor – musician / producer / technician – Brighton Dome

Tom Travis – Product manager – Rough Trade records

Tom Ward – musician

Tom Williams – singer

Tomas Hallonsten – musician (Tape)

Tullis Rennie – composer / lecturer in music, City – University of London

Tyondai Braxton – musician

Veronica Lee – journalist

Vladislav Delay aka Sasu Ripatti – composer

Ward Dhoore – folk musician

Wendy Gadian – Theatre musical Director

Western Vinyl – record label

Will Burns – poet

Will Gregory – musician

Wyndham Wallace – journalist

Zoe Miller – music PR

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