PRS Board Elections 2008
REGISTER TO ATTEND THE HUSTINGS ON 14TH MAY 2008
PRS Elections 2008 Writer Candidate Hustings
6pm-8pm, Wednesday 14th May 2008
PRS Board Room, 6th floor Copyright House
(coffee and tea from 5.30pm)
The Academy, with the full support of the Performing Right Society, is holding a hustings meeting, which will be chaired by Academy Chairman and PRS Director, David Ferguson. The 7 writer-candidates standing in this year's elections to the PRS Board have been invited to give a short presentation to introduce themselves, before the meeting is opened to questions from the floor.
If you are a Full or Associate Member of the PRS and would like to attend and hear what each candidate has to say, please contact Lucy Weston at
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The Academy has invited all PRS writer candidates who are Academy members to provide up to 200 words in support of this campaign. This information is being posted below as it reaches us.
Nigel Beaham-Powell
A media composer, Nigel Beaham-Powell has written over 80 scores for BBC and ITV dramas, and more than 250 documentaries, broadcast worldwide. Recent work includes three 9/11 documentaries for C4, and a sixth library album for Carlin Production Music.
It is essential that TV and Film music is strongly represented at PRS Board level as there needs to be constant pressure to improve and speed up the collection of media royalties worldwide for the benefit of all the membership. In particular, relationships with European collecting societies need to be maximised.
Efficiency and speed at collecting society level is important for members and their money and also in negotiating value for all our works with new users on the net. Collecting societies must remain relevant in the 21st century, and there are many challenges ahead.
The value of copyright needs to be vigorously upheld in the public forum and with government, and all technical developments within PRS need to be geared towards efficiency and getting member's money to them as fast as possible.
As ever, I will continue to strive for transparency and good governance in Board activity and I hope to continue to represent the cause of music creators in the UK and beyond.
Paul Farrer
Paul Farrer is the award-winning TV composer of shows such as The Weakest Link, Dancing on Ice, The Jerry Springer Show, Ant and Dec’s Poker Face, Trisha Goddard, and Duel.
In 2007 he set up www.composersforafairdeal.com - a petition site in protest at the PRS board’s decision to establish the ‘primetime’ subsidy which forces composers and publishers whose work is used in 75% of the British TV broadcast day to pay a percentage of their income to composers and publishers whose work is used between 6pm and midnight.
After nearly 700 signatures from PRS members and composers with registered works Paul is running as the candidate who represents the voice of those who feel that we need democratic reform at the heart of the PRS board. Paul will fight to establish a greater involvement between members and the board particularly when it comes to major decisions affecting members’ incomes.
Paul is a keen supporter of Princes Trust Music and is proud to donate many of his musical works to their publishing catalogue.
He became a member of the British Academy in 2007
David Stoll
I am a professional composer, writing regularly for the theatre, the concert hall and the media. I have written considerable library music and recent work includes scores for the Royal Shakespeare Company, my fourth String Quartet, a children’s songbook and CD, and a new musical, GULLIVER.
I am a founding co-Chairman of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters and still on the Board of the Academy. I am also the longest standing composer representative on the Board of British Music Rights.
With my experience in all aspects of music and song, and service on many committees in the music world, I believe I am well placed to represent composers and songwriters in these fast-moving times of threats and opportunities. The protection of our Rights and the recognition of their value is a clear priority at present. We need to ensure an efficient, accurate, fast and fair system of royalty collection and distribution for our music and songs. This is something that all writers deserve, and I shall work to protect and enhance a proper return for those who create and promote the music and songs which enrich the world.
Alan Parker
I have composed scores for over 25 feature films, i.e. Jaws 3, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Pheonix, Up on the Roof, Stormbreaker, as well as some 200 TV dramas and documentaries and jingles, Minder, Van der Valk, Rhodes, Victoria & Albert, Dempsey & Makepeace, The Cry, Fallen Angel etc., also some 40 library CD’s.
I am very committed to the fairness of the PRS distribution of monies, and for the transparency in this. For several years a handful of composers and publishers have been taking a large slice of the blanket money, for the programmes from midnight to 6.00am, thus reducing the point value (money) received by the membership as a whole.
This is grossly unfair. For this reason PRS brought in the 2 tier system. It may have slightly reduced some individuals income, (only a little), but I firmly believe in being fair to the whole membership, not just a handful of individuals.
Also, we are in a time of massive transition, with regard to MCPS and PRS. We need a board that will fight on every front, for the whole membership, to help safeguard the mechanical and performance monies, that are our livelihood.
I am a member of the media exec. committee, and on the board; as well as being on the Gold Badge committee.
David Bedford
For over 20 years I’ve championed the rights of composers and songwriters of all genres. We’re facing very complex issues, many in Europe, many of which are hidden or open attacks on our rights. This battle is ongoing and I’ve got a huge amount of experience and passion to bring to bear. I’m fully up to speed on all the issues and want to continue the fight.
PRS’ principal activity is, of course, to collect money and to distribute it as quickly, fairly and openly as possible. I’m fully aware of all the issues and will continue, as I have for the last 15 years, to fight for the interests of the membership as a whole.
• Composer with 40 years of continuous commissions
• Keyboards with Kevin Ayers and the Whole World 1969-1972
• Arrangements for Madness, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, ABC, Elvis Costello, Mike Oldfield, many others
• Founder member of the Association of Professional Composers (APC)
• Chair of APC 1988-1989
• Elected to PRS Board 1993
• Elected Deputy Chair (writer) PRS 1998-2002
• 1st Chair of the PRS Foundation 2000
• Appointed Composer Trustee for the PRS Members’ Fund 2003
• Elected Chair PRS 2002-2004
Simon Darlow
I have for many years been fortunate enough to make my living in several genres as a songwriter, composer, musician, producer and arranger.
I have co-written hits for Grace Jones(Slave To The Rhythm), Toyah, Dollar, Elkie Brooks, Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Shirley Bassey, Leo Sayer, Martine McCutcheon; played and arranged for Musical Youth, Wham, Buggles, Divinyls, Bucks Fizz, Right Said Fred and recorded 2 albums as an artist for Magnet Records.
I have composed and produced over 70 TV theme tunes and scores including "Supermarket Sweep", "Wags Boutique", "BBC Outtake TV" and "Guilty Pleasures" for ITV with David Lowe.
As TV and radio channels proliferate exponentially and music usage per hour increases, fixed point values paid to us as composers decrease. The Board should always seek to evolve a fair distribution policy in an era where the perceived value of music is constantly being eroded and it is important in this climate to communicate these issues effectively to help us all prevent the growing perception that our music should be free.
Last year I was just a few votes short of getting on the Board. Please give me your support again this year so that I can use my experience and enthusiasm to bring some fresh blood onto the Board and contribute my knowledge to the Society during a time when music as a business is changing so drastically.
