Manchester Collective celebrate contemporary classical composers
PRS for Music and PRS Foundation partner with the radical ensemble the first ever PRS Presents Classical Edition
Prodigious commissioners, and advocates for new music, Manchester Collective, who have been supported by PRS Foundation throughout their journey, have had a considerable impact on the classical musical world in only a few years; high notes include performing at the Proms, a South Bank Centre composer residence, and winning a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. Above all, it is their innovative and imaginative approach to contemporary classical music, both as performers and curators, that has impressed so many.
Manchester Collective performed a special programme on the night including compositions by Jocelyn Campbell, Edmund Finnis, Philip Glass, Andrew Hamilton, Christian Mason, Anna Meredith, Dobrinka Tabakova and Errollyn Wallen CBE, the newly appointed Master of the King’s Music – many of whom were in the audience on the night.
The shape-shifting ensemble are renowned for their daring collaborations, creating intimate and intense human experiences inspired by the music they love, for everyone. Truly pushing the boundaries of what is understood to be classical music, Manchester Collective’s vision is to reshape the future of classical music from their base in the North of England, skewering perceptions of how classical music is presented and experienced.
Themes of resilience and celebration for the classical sector were conveyed throughout the evening, with speeches delivered by Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO, PRS for Music, Julian Nott, Chair, Michelle Escoffery, President, and Daniel Lewis, PRS for Music’s Classical Relationship Manager: Latest figures from PRS for Music show royalties paid out to composers who write primarily for classical concerts, and their publishers, increased by nearly a third in 2023, compared to 2019.
It is an incredible honour to perform a programme of freshly written compositions and work closely with composers to bring their art into the world. Music is evocative for me, it takes the form of not only sound, but textures, temperature, energy colour and gesture. I encourage everyone, the next time you listen to a piece of music, not only to pay attention to what you’re hearing but to observe how it feels in your body, what the sound does to you physically as well as emotionally. After all, mind, body, soul are all connected.
Classical music evokes a connection with audiences. Ensembles who push the conventional boundaries on how classical concerts are presented, such as Manchester Collective, are helping to welcome new listeners to the genre. The increase in PRS’s royalties paid out to classical composers demonstrates the positive value of classical music in traditional settings such as concert halls but also in commercial settings such as film, TV, radio and online streaming.
Classical music is a priority for PRS. We have recently negotiated a significant increase in the live classical royalty paid by concert halls and venues. Our foundation, the PRS Foundation, continues to support both established and emerging classical composers. And I’m pleased to say we enjoy the very effective, and robust, contributions of classical music publishers Boosey & Hawkes, Faber Music, and Wise on our Member’s Council.
About PRS for Music
Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public.
For 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com
