For many years, PPL has supported The MITS Award, which celebrates outstanding contributions to music while raising vital funds for The BRIT Trust and Nordoff and Robbins. Ahead of this year’s event, I share why The MITS Award remains one of the highlights of the industry calendar and why supporting the organisations it benefits is so important to the future of music.
I first attended The MITS back in 2002, shortly after I joined PPL. Elton John was receiving the award and performing live, and it was such a fun, amazing evening. Celebrating Gary Barlow OBE in 2012 was another stand-out moment, when all five members of Take That were reunited on stage, and had the whole room dancing away, and then the following year, in 2013, honouring Annie Lennox OBE was equally special. I have now been to 23 MITS over the years, and PPL has supported the event since 2007. It never fails to be a memorable evening.
Alongside recognising success, it’s a fundraising event for the two charities which contribute a great deal to our industry. To date, the event has raised more than £7 million for both The BRIT Trust and Nordoff and Robbins, really bringing home how we as an industry can invest in the power of music to improve lives and support the next generation of talent.
Nurturing a thriving music sector is something I care deeply about and is a principle which guides our work at PPL.
We collect royalties on behalf of hundreds of thousands of members, ensuring they are paid when their recorded music is used in the UK and around the world. By helping to ensure that performers and recording rightsholders are fairly rewarded for their time, talent and investment, we’re playing our part in helping to sustain the music ecosystem.
Through its funding received from The MITS Award, The BRITs and other avenues, The BRIT Trust supports music and the creative arts by working with a breadth of causes across the UK that promote education, wellbeing, and social justice.
One of the BRIT Trust’s principal beneficiaries is, of course, The BRIT School, the leading creative performing arts school in the UK which is completely free to attend. It is a unique institution that has produced an incredible roll call of alumni and helped to launch hundreds of careers across the creative sector.
PPL has worked with The BRIT School for many years, most lately through PPL Giving, our +£1 million annual programme which supports talent development and music education. This includes both funding and practical support, from giving talks and careers advice, to helping students gain insight into the business side of the industry.
Throughout that, I’ve seen firsthand how much Stuart Worden OBE, The BRIT School Principal, cares for his students and how well informed he is about their development while at the school. The same is true of him staying in touch with alumni, once they’ve left, and keeping abreast of how their careers evolve. I’ve always believed that helping people build sustainable careers in music is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our industry.
The BRIT Trust has now distributed more than £30 million in grants, including to dozens of other causes alongside The BRIT School, such as Music Support, Key4Life, and BAPAM, the healthcare charity for those in the performing arts, which I am proud to chair.
PPL is also a longstanding supporter of Nordoff and Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity. Its therapists help people of all ages and backgrounds to reconnect with the world, improve communication and transform lives. Having attended so many events in support of Nordoff and Robbins over the years, I have heard from many parents, and sometimes those receiving treatment themselves, about how important music therapy has been to the welfare and development of their child or family member. Attending some of the therapy sessions run at the charity’s North London HQ is a powerful reminder of the meaningful impact that music can have in improving lives.
In addition to The MITS Award, PPL also supports Nordoff and Robbins’ other flagship events, including the Silver Clef Awards and Legends of Football, where I also serve as chair.
Alongside the important fundraising on the night, The MITS pays tribute to an exceptional individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the success of our industry. This year that person is Guy Moot, Chair and CEO of Warner Chappell Music. I have known Guy for almost 20 years now; in fact, we used to go to the same gym back when Sony Music Publishing was located in Golden Square! We have regularly caught up at various industry events over the years, so I speak from experience when I say I know what a nice guy and truly deserving recipient he is. I’m looking forward to celebrating Guy’s achievements on the 9th of November at the Grosvenor House Hotel.
This article was published in Music Week.
