Think that your pub has what it takes to be the next big thing in live music venues? Then the PRS for Music needs you. The organisation which represents 100,000 songwriters and composers is offering publicans across the UK the chance to improve their live music facilities as it launches the ‘Music Makeover 2013’ competition.
Prize money doubled
Launched in 2010 by PRS for Music, ‘Music Makeover’ is now in its fourth year. The aim of the competition is to emphasise how crucial pubs are to maintaining and developing the UK music scene.
This year, the prize money has doubled to £10,000 for one lucky pub to kit out their establishment with equipment from music retailer GAK. There are also 10 runner up prizes of £200 GAK vouchers to be won.
The competition was officially launched on Monday 11 November. Pubs all across the UK can enter by logging onto prsformusic.com/musicmakeover. Entries close 31 December.
On the judging panel will be PRS for Music director of public performance sales Paul Clements, the British Beer and Pub Association, Musicians’ Union assistant general secretary Horace Trubridge and chair of the Scottish Music Industry Association Stewart Henderson.
Importance of pubs for talent
‘Music Makeover’ is also endorsed by artists including Chvrches, alt J, Wolf Alice, Scouting for Girls, Sandi Thom, Status Quo and David McAlmont.
Iain Cook of Chvrches said: “Local pubs and small venues are hugely important. I’ve been playing in bands since 1993 and there’s a real willingness from pubs and promoters to give young talent a chance. They are a really encouraging force.”
Previous winners include The Royal Oak in Somerset, The Market Inn in Kent and The Burnaby Arms in Bedford.
Sales uplift for music venues
Lucie Fuller of The Burnaby Arms is calling on pub owners to enter ‘Music Makeover’ 2013, saying: “Regardless of whether you’re an independent pub or owned by a brewery, most landlords don’t have this kind of money to spend on doing up a space specifically for live music. Being able to revamp the pub with the new equipment gave us another avenue to explore and has benefited us immensely.”
If you needed further encouragement to enter, research* undertaken by PRS for Music found that there is significant sales uplift for music venues compared to non-music venues. On average, pubs and venues that provided live music can take up to £306 more per day on wet sales, increasing to £667 per venue per day over the weekend.
Revamp your pub
PRS for Music’s director of public performance sales Paul Clements says: “Pubs across the UK continue to be one of the most popular places for people to socialise and we recognise that they are crucial in maintaining and developing the UK music scene. Music Makeover 2013 offers landlords across the UK a chance to enter our campaign to revamp their pub and make live music a central part of their success. We have doubled this year’s prize money to £10,000 which will undoubtedly make a huge difference to the lucky winner.”
About PRS for Music
PRS for Music represents the rights of 100,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK. As a membership organisation it ensures creators are paid whenever their music is played, performed or reproduced; championing the importance of copyright to protect and support the UK music industry. The UK has a proud tradition of creating wonderful music that is enjoyed the world over and PRS for Music has been supporting the creators of that music since 1914.
PRS for Music provides business and community groups with easy access to over 10m songs through its music licences. In an industry worth £3.8bn PRS for Music is uniquely placed to be a voice for music and music creators. Collecting £630.8m in 2011 PRS for Music is one of the world’s most efficient combined rights organisations. With 150 representation agreements in place globally, PRS for Music’s network represents over 2 million music creators.