The new digital era of music consumption, alluded to in Daniel Thomas’s piece “I want to break through” (Music, March 15), has made the world a smaller place. The UK industry is no longer the trend setter. Artists and producers alike share concerns that despite music being a large UK export, the current level of label and producer support no longer cuts the mustard.
The issue is twofold. Social media and online streaming are, for some artists, creating viral moments, leading to a “fast fashion” approach to music. There is no shortage of British talent. However, we’re no longer cultivating talent for the long term. Traditional ways of building a fan base are falling by the wayside in favour of these new online “gatekeepers” of the music world.
Chappell Roan, the American singer-songwriter, made this point at the Brit Awards. “Artists deserve the freedom to write bad songs and to explore horrible concepts and to flop, and rise, and not be pressured into making music based off what’s trending,” she said. Britain’s Myles Smith and the Dutch singer Georgie Davis alluded to the fact that grassroots and independent venues, which ensured the “bloodline” of the UK’s industry in the past, are closing, leaving little room for budding artists to practice, find their voice, build a fan base and make mistakes — all crucial steps for young artists looking for their big break.
But place all your bets on social media and that break may just never come. If we want the UK to remain a global music powerhouse and nurture global bestsellers, we need to back grassroots spaces, fund proper music education, and hold record labels accountable to support real artistry, not just fleeting trends.
Harry Leckstein
Deputy Managing Director, London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM), London SE1, UK
