Music Makeover Pub Winners Announced
PRS for Music today announces the two winners of its Music Makeover competition
PRS for Music today announces the two winners of its Music Makeover competition – The Royal Oak (Taunton) and The Prince of Wales (Tooting, London). The two winners each win up to £5000 to spend improving their live music facilities as well as expert advice on staging music events.
In partnership with the Musician’s Union and the British Beer and Pub Association, PRS for Music launched the competition back in December 2009 to find two local pubs in need of a ‘Music Makeover’.
Research by CGA, commissioned by PRS for Music, proved that pubs with featured music take 44% more money than pubs that keep it quiet and the competition sought to demonstrate the way that music can help pubs grow and maintain their business.
The winning pubs were selected by a judging panel that included Feargal Sharkey (UK Music), Rita King (Deputy Director, British Beer and Pub Association), Horace Trubridge (Assistant General Secretary, Musicians' Union) and Debbie Mulloy (Commercial Director, PRS for Music).
Nicola Berridge from The Royal Oak in Taunton said: “Winning the Music Makeover competition is great for The Royal Oak and it’s a real endorsement from PRS for Music that they can see the same potential in the pub that we can. The business is at the heart of the community and the prize money and expert advice will genuinely help us improve our music offering which is really exciting for us”.
Kirk Barclay from The Prince of Wales in Tooting, London said: “We’re thrilled to have won the Music Makeover competition. Music is so important to helping pubs grow and the prize money from PRS for Music will really help us develop our live offering”.
Debbie Mulloy, Commercial Director Public Performance Sales, PRS for Music said: “Congratulations to both The Royal Oak and The Prince of Wales for their well deserved wins. The decision of the panel was unanimous and everyone was impressed by the potential of both pubs to grow into great live music venues”.
John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism and Heritage at DCMS, said: “Pubs play a vital role in the local community, providing an excellent platform from which musicians’ careers can grow, and we need to protect and support them as they are both such integral parts of the UK cultural scene”.
PRS for Music is also developing advice packs to send to 45,000 pubs in conjunction with the Musician’s Union and BBPA which will chart the winners story as well include tips from successful music pubs from across the country.
