May 2021 Newsletter
MPG Awards Update
The Judging for the 2021 MPG Awards took place for the first time remotely last week. A diverse panel of judges from different parts of the industry were invited to take part and the event was brilliantly chaired by producer Charlie Deakin-Davies. Our feedback survey suggests a makeup of 45% female judges and 30% ethnic diversity, which is positive news as we strive to become much more representative of the communities we serve. We are also considering how to include a remote element in the judging process going forward, to improve accessibility. The winners will be announced in the media on June 10th, and we hope to be able to host an in-person celebration of winners and nominees later in the year, Covid rules permitting.
SEISS Payments
Applications for the fourth SEISS Grant are now open. Anyone who was eligible for the first set of grants will be eligible (provided their business is still impacted) and those who were newly self-employed in 2020 and therefore did not have tax returns may also now qualify for SEISS.
Help Musicians Hardship Funds
Phase 4 of the Financial Hardship Funding is targeted musicians, including producers and engineers who are unemployed or self-employed but who do not qualify for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and are unable to make ends meet in the current climate. The MPG verifies Full Members to Help Musicians as meeting their eligibility requirements in terms of being a “professional musician“.
AIM Awards Entries
The annual AIM awards are now open for entries, and anyone can make nominations. Four categories are free to enter, and if you’ve worked on a project that you think should be recognised in one of the other categories that have an entry fee attached, do check in with the label or management, as AIM members can enter the awards for free. Nominations close 4th May, so don’t delay.
MIB Insurance for Home Studios
MPG Benefactors Music Insurance Brokers (MIB) have announced a new Equipment and Liability Insurance package for producers with home setups and private studios. This may be useful for members that have moved to doing more work from home in the past year.
UK Music Surveys
Please take 5 minutes to fill in the UK Music Creators Survey – it will help inform their lobbying to the government and build a picture of the industry and what support may be needed due to the pandemic.
By filling in the survey you will automatically be entered into the prize draw where you could win one of several great prizes: a pair of Sennheiser headphones, a £100 Amazon voucher, a £100 GAK music store voucher or a £100 PMT music store voucher.
There are two surveys one for Producers and Engineers and another for Studios
