Photo Credit: Musicians’ Union
The Musicians’ Union vows to fight job cuts at BBC Symphony, BBC Concert, BBC Philharmonic, and BBC Singers.
The Musicians’ Union (MU) is in urgent talks with the BBC to save jobs after the corporation’s proposals to make cuts across the BBC Performing Groups. These include the closure of the BBC Singers, a Voluntary Redundancy program for the BBC Symphony, and BBC Concert and BBC Philharmonic orchestras, to cut around 20% of jobs. The three affected orchestras and the BBC Singers are England-based; the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra seem unaffected.
“The BBC is the biggest employer and engager of musicians in the UK, and it plays a unique role in the eco-system of our music industry,” says Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary. “From Glastonbury to the Proms, from Jools Holland to BBC Radio, its coverage, support, and promotion of British musical talent nationally and internationally is unrivaled. It is because we appreciate the BBC’s role so much that these proposed cuts are so utterly devastating.”
“Musicians have suffered greatly during the pandemic and with the rising cost of living. As a profession and as an industry, we remain in crisis,” Pohl adds.
“The BBC performing groups are a key asset that sets the BBC apart from commercial broadcasters. The BBC’s recent Classical Music Review gave the impression this was well understood and indicated a full commitment from the broadcaster to their ongoing employment,” says Jo Laverty, MU Organizer Orchestras.
“To now hear of potential redundancies across the BBC orchestras in England and the closure of the Singers as a performing group is unthinkable,” Laverty continues. “The BBC Orchestras and Singers and the exceptional quality of their live and broadcast output ensure that the BBC remains one of the most significant players in the classical music industry, both in the UK and internationally.”
“With the six Performing Groups all fully utilized in meeting the current broadcast volume requirement across the BBC, the MU does not think that these proposals are the answer to the BBC’s need to find savings,” concludes Laverty. “The MU’s key focus will be on talking regularly and working with the BBC to avoid any loss of jobs and challenging them to find alternative solutions.”