Burnham Grieves For TOTP

Britain is missing out on tomorrow’s music stars because TV stations have stopped putting new acts on at prime time, according to culture secretary Andy Burnham.

“We need a programme like ‘Top of the Pops’ again,” he said in his keynote speech at Manchester’s In The City conference Oct. 5. “This was a great thing that was always putting a great mix of new music before the public.”

He said the great acts that emerged 20 years ago may not get the same chance today, and urged broadcasters to “promote and champion new music in this country, rather than having just very safe options on prime-time TV.”

Burnham told delegates at the three-day In The City that talent shows like “The X Factor” are great but said “they’re not quite the same” as promoting artists who write their own songs.

“I just worry a little that the relationship between prime-time TV and radio and the music industry has at times become a little cozy,” he told BBC, which screened TOTP for 42 years until dumping it in 2006.

“It’s relying on safe formats and not sufficiently putting out those new names that can then all of a sudden go from the margins right into national prominence,” Burnham said.

“That was what was great about the past – The Smiths did become a national name, even though I can remember my dad moaning about them on ‘Top of the Pops.’”

Burnham also insisted that the music business should approach government with “one voice,” although he gave no clues as to how to do so.

Although the consultation period between the industry and the Internet service providers – which has been driven by the recent signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding – doesn’t finish until the end of October, he said legislation against illegal file-sharing is a last resort.

He also said more needs to be done at a grassroots level to sustain the future profitability of the industry. He cited the development of more rehearsal spaces and a greater commitment to community radio as potential ways to drive such activity.

ITC was also meant to herald the arrival of the Featured Artistes’ Coalition, which has been set up by The Music Managers Forum, but its press department jumped the gun and released the details a month ago.

The FAC aims to help artists get tighter control of their careers by engaging with government, music and technology companies and collection societies as well as arguing for fair play and, where necessary, exposing unfair practices.

Radiohead, Robbie Williams, Kaiser Chiefs, The Verve, Billy Bragg, Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour are among the acts that have joined.

The other speakers and panelists at In The City, which was at Manchester’s Midland Hotel Oct. 5-7, included former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, Geoff Ellis from Scottish-based DF Concerts, Sire Records chief Seymour Stein, International Music Managers Forum chairman Petri Lunden, and former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.