The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
Organisers said "sustainability has always been at the heart" of the festival. In 2010, the festival's cowsheds were covered with enough solar panels to power 40 homes, making it the largest privately owned solar power station in the UK at the time. The site has also welcomed a temporary new wind turbine in Williams Green to provide clean power to some market stalls, and solar energy is used to power the Farm and Festival offices.
Organisers said: "Our Green Fields have run on solar, wind and pedal power since 1984, setting a fossil-fuel free standard we've always aspired towards implementing across the festival. Since then we have been drawing on technological innovation to help reduce our use of fossil fuels and strive towards creating a festival that is as sustainable as possible." In 2019, the festival banned single-use plastic from the site and has asked fans not to bring disposable vapes this year. The festival also has its own on-site recycling facility to reduce waste sent to landfill.
In The Courts - A group of 17 music publishers in the US has sued Twitter, claiming the platform enabled copyright violations involving nearly 1,700 songs. The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) is seeking more than $250m (£197.7m) in damages. In a lawsuit filed at the Federal District Court in Nashville, the NMPA claimed Twitter "permits and encourages infringement" for profit. It says the situation has not improved since Elon Musk bought the company.
The NMPA, which represents firms - including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management and Universal Music Publishing Group - alleged that Twitter continues to "reap huge profits from the availability of unlicensed music without paying the necessary licensing fees for it". It added that the infringements have given Twitter an "unfair advantage" over competitors - including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat - which pay for music licences. Twitter "stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service," NMPA President David Israelite said in a statement.
Unesco Award - The team behind Liverpool's Eurovision Song Contest has been honoured with the first ever Unesco music award. The Liverpool Unesco City of Music Award has been set up to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to the local music sector. Host broadcaster the BBC and event owners the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was handed the award at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall. The city council said it was the most-watched Eurovision final in UK history. Early indications showed an extra 500,000 visitors came to the city during the first two weeks of May, bringing in millions of pounds to the local economy.
Expanding - Trafalgar Entertainment has bolstered its expanding portfolio of theatres after being awarded the contract to run new venue Fareham Live in Hampshire. When it opens next year, it means Trafalgar Theatres - the venue arm of TE - will have 17 theatres, including the forthcoming Olympia Theatre, which is set to open in London in 2025.
Trafalgar Theatres chief executive Helen Enright said growing TE’s portfolio was "at the heart" of its strategy, with the company looking at other opportunities to grow. The contract to run the theatre comes just months after TE acquired Glasgow Pavilion.
Festive Note - Christopher Eccleston is to star as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic in London. Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus’ production of Jack Thorne’s play will return to the theatre from 11 November to 6 January 2024. The creative team has also been announced, with set and costume by Rob Howell, composition and arrangement by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by Simon Baker. Josh Seymour is the associate director. The Old Vic has also launched a search for a charity that will be supported through the run of the production via bucket collections as well as text and online donations.
(Jim Evans)
20 June 2023
