Just in: BBC slashes classical musicians’ rates

Just in: BBC slashes classical musicians’ rates

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norman lebrecht

December 03, 2015

Andrew Green reports on the Classical Music site that Radio 3 is to halve the amount it pays to musicians for concert relays. The amount is usually 20-30 percent of the artist’s performing fee.

Radio 3 controller Alan Davey and his sidekick Edward Blakeman made the announcement to a gathering of artists’ agents.

bbc radio 3

The amount saved is tiny as a proportion of BBC overheads – possibly less than Alan Yentob’s salary.

UPDATE: Statement to Slipped Disc by the BBC: ‘We’re  presently in a series of ongoing and confidential discussions with the industry on this matter.’

Comments

  • Eric says:

    That’s Andrew Green, not Alan. He’s a football commentator.

  • Robert says:

    What is a concert “relay”?

  • Peter says:

    Presumably this relates to single performers – conductors and concerto soloists – as it was announced to IAMA. Are the BBC also halving the payments made to orchestra musicians, which are governed by agreement with the Musicians Union?

  • Anne63 says:

    The BBC has been paying well in excess of £500k to “presenters” of dubious achievement for years.

    Fawning over celebrities should be done commercially. If they are so popular that this sort of money can be justified, their programmes should be sold on a commercial basis. Admittedly, in some instances they are, but it’s not what the licence fee is for in my opinion.

  • Eddie Mars says:

    Ah, Christmas must be coming, it’s chestnut season… the old chestnut about ‘we’re doing *you* a favour by broadcasting you’….

  • Peter Freeman says:

    Industry inspeak for broadcast, Robert

  • Peter Freeman says:

    Yes it does and no they are not, Peter

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