2020 EGM Director Statements

On the 9th December, it is the end of the current 3-year cycle and all current directors of the MPG Executive Board will step down and an election will be held to determine those who will comprise the Executive Board for the next three years.

The current directors are Cameron Craig, Olga FitzRoy, Bruno Ellingham, Dan Cox & Rhiannon Mair.

Bruno Ellingham and Dan Cox are not re-standing.

 

The following candidates for election have submitted their statements

Katie Tavini

I would really love to get involved with the running of the MPG as I think that I could help encourage member diversity. I’ve done a lot of work with various organisations that champion women and gender minorities over the past few years, however I am very aware that this isn’t the only area of diversity that needs to be worked on within the music industry. I run a group called 2% Rising along with Rookes and Suze Cooper, and although the group has only been running since March, we’ve got over 300 members of gender minorities who are all working in various aspects of the industry. We have worked hard within this group to build confidence within the members, and I’m super happy to see so many nominated for MPG awards this year! However, more needs to be done, and although DIY groups are great, I feel as though I would be able to help make more of a change from within the MPG. I’ve been an MPG member for almost 10 years now so it feels like a good time to get involved.

Matt Taylor

I cut my musical teeth as a tape and Pro Tools op. After ten years, I have progressed through the ranks to my current role today as an engineer and an aspiring producer. Apart from the evident passion of making records, I also have a passion for politics. So in February, I became a political lobbyist for the MPG. However, this role quickly expanded into composing a broad bulk of the newsletters since lockdown 1.0 and also becoming part of the social media team.
My background is quite varied, so I feel I can offer a fresh perspective to the MPG board. I grew up in the state care system, where career opportunities in the recording sector are about as remote as Pluto. Social mobility remains a problem in our industry, and The PEC report back in August is just the latest on the pile, finding only 16% of people are from working-class households have jobs in the creative industries, this is compounded further with those from minority backgrounds. Traditionally our sector has offered clear pathways to those from lower economic circumstances, however since the move from maps to sat navs, and these pathways only appear to be available for those who can afford the directions. I believe my experience can help come up with concrete solutions to fix this problem and keep our sector fresh and relevant.
Other issues I hold close to my heart are, getting tax relief for studio owners making ‘British’ records (similar to the film industry), creating a similar credit framework to IMDB for recordings, a fair Copyright Directive, and also post Brexit immigration.
During this crisis, the MPG has proven itself to be an integral pillar of UK Music, and a real force for good to all engineers, mixers, and producers – regardless of membership. From pushing the government hard to give practical covid guidance that wouldn’t cripple the validity of the business; or to be included in the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, or being able to remain open over the lockdown 2.0, or explaining clearly what the constant tsunami of announcements means for our sector. Before 2020, how records were made, and who got the credit was shifting. Now it appears to be on steroids! The role the MPG serves has never been more critical in the post-covid / post-brexit world.

I have an abundance of energy, a tonne of ideas, and plenty of enthusiasm. So if I’m lucky enough to be elected, I can promise to devote whatever is needed to help represent the needs of members, while pushing the guild forward.

 

Cameron Craig

Looking at my first statement for the MPG I realise how far things have come in the last 5 years.  My concerns then were producers, engineers and mixers being somewhat underrepresented in the music industry and that is still somewhat an issue, however, perception has moved considerably. The political strength of the MPG has grown immensely.  DCMS’s recognition of the MPG in getting us to write re-opening guidance for studios during Covid19 lockdown, that the Chancellor mentioned sound engineers and musicians in his speech about the self-employment grant announcement thanks to the tireless work of Olga and the MU at the beginning of the pandemic.  The formation of the MPG Studio group to advise on fiscal incentives in recognition of a need for representation and that the MPG would be the best place for that. The MPG has been working closely with other associations in building a fairer industry and educating about the one we have now. Campaigns grow and in co-operation with other international organisations, there is a drive to solve credits through the accurate collection of metadata, I want to work harder to take this even further.

Rhiannon Mair

My main objectives when joining the MPG board of directors was to help expand and Diversify our membership as well as to help keep the MPG current and relevant. I come from a songwriting background which I feel is an important insight to have on the board, as production and songwriting have become more intertwined in today’s role of the producer. We have acknowledged this by creating a new MPG ‘Writer-Producer of the Year’ Award to celebrate writer-producers and to recognise their contributions and the important role they play in our industry.
As part of my ongoing work with the Guild, I want to ensure that we continue to foster a space where all races, background gender, LGBTQ+ and non-binary creatives are welcomed, seen and heard.

Olga FitzRoy

I have been an executive director of the MPG since 2019, and I would love to be given the chance to continue to represent our community. In the short time on the board, I have led a campaign against unpaid work which received widespread press coverage, which I will continue once we get beyond the immediate crisis of the Covid -19 pandemic. This crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on the music industry, and I am proud of the way the MPG have supported our members through this crisis. I represented the MPG on numerous calls with the government and at UK Music and was immensely proud and relieved when the chancellor mentioned musicians and sound engineers in his announcement of the self-employed income support scheme, as a result of our work. I also represented the MPG on the government-convened working group to develop Covid-secure guidance for music production, spending many hours on calls with ministers, officials and other trade bodies and am proud of my role in pushing for appropriate guidance that has allowed us to get back to work safely and keep the confidence of our clients. This work led to a closer relationship with recording studios, and I’m extremely happy that a part of the industry that I care so deeply about and owe so much to is now properly represented and part of the MPG family. I have worked hard to increase diversity in the MPG awards by encouraging those from underrepresented groups to put themselves forward for the awards, and I led the development of a new category, UK Original Score Recording of the Year, to recognise the talent working in film and TV music. My passion for equality and diversity is still at the forefront of everything I do, and if elected I hope to continue the MPG’s much-needed progress in this area.