London is one of the major classical
and popular music capitals of the world and is home to major music
corporations, such as EMI, as well as countless bands, musicians and industry
professionals. London has numerous venues for rock and pop concerts, including
large arenas such as Earls Court, Wembley Arena and the O2 Arena, as
well as many mid-sized venues, such as Brixton Academy, the Hammersmith Apollo
and the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Several musical festivals, including the
Wireless Festivals, are held in London. The city is home to the first and
original Hard Rock Cafe and the Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded
many of their hits.
London was instrumental in the
development of punk music, with figures such as Vivienne Westwood, based in the
city. More recent artists to emerge from the London music scene include George
Michael, Bananarama, Bush, East 17, the Spice Girls etc.
London is also a centre for urban
music. In particular, the genres UK garage, drum and bass dubstep and grime
evolved in the city from the foreign genres of hip hop and reggae, alongside local
drum and bass. Black music station BBC Radio 1Xtra was set up to support the
rise of home-grown urban music both in London and the rest of the UK.
The city is also home to many
orchestras and concert halls, such as the Barbican Arts Centre (principal base
of the London Symphony Orchestra) Cadogan Hall (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) and
the Royal Albert Hall (The Proms). London's two main opera houses are the Royal
Opera House and the Coliseum Theatre. The UK's largest pipe organ can be found
at the Royal Albert Hall. Other significant instruments are found at the
cathedrals and major churches. Several conservatoires are located within the
city, including, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall
School of Music and Drama and Trinity College of Music.
The majority of the UK's music industry revenue is
concentrated in London. Musicians, songwriters and composers derive their
income from a variety of sources. The PRS (Performance Rights Society) and the
MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) assist this diverse group of
about 10,000 London members in securing royalties and fees. Record companies,
studios and publishers are located in the inner boroughs, while manufacturing
and distribution companies are located in the outer boroughs. As London is a
very diverse city, the number of musical genres in the music industry reflect
this diversity. In 1999, total spending on music by London consumers and
companies amounted to over 1.1 billion pounds. The largest amount of revenue
came from consumers, followed by private corporations, and then the public
sector. The London music industry generated about 32,000 jobs, with 13,350
being full-time. The primary source of income and employment involved live
performance.
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