Ruth Daniel, CEO and Artistic Director, In Place of War (UK)
I am a former musician, record label owner and global festival maker. I am now the award-winning CEO of an organisation called In Place of War that works with arts and creativity in places of armed conflict. I work closely with the music industry to build music spaces, mobilise equipment and musicians to conflict zones. I am an Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Manchester. I work across 26 countries and consider myself to be a creative activist. I accidentally became a DJ and have performed across 20 countries and some of the biggest festivals in the world.
Music ecosystems. Why do they matter?
Music is life. For me, music and creativity is a human right and something everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy, make and participate in. Music Ecosystems are important to provide the fabric through which music can be nurtured, produced, consumed and sustained. From small venues, to promoters to labels and music press and radio, the music ecosystem starts in our local communities, and it is how these connect digitally that creates a global music ecosystem of grassroots actors, connecting, creating and pushing the boundaries of what we experience through music. From the smallest music venue to the largest music company – every component plays a part in helping audiences around the world experience music.
What does the music-ecosystem future look like to you, post-pandemic?
During the pandemic, we realised how essential human contact and shared experiences are, but we also understood that fragility of the systems in our world – but quickly responded with new and innovative ways of experiencing music, when we couldn’t gather together. The future is hybrid. It’s experiences on and offline. It’s exploring how we connect and perform without travelling. It’s using technology in the most innovative ways. It’s enabling access to music for all.
Name one other music-ecosystem builder that inspires you
The Music Venue Trust in the UK provides an excellent and inspiring example of a music ecosystem at work. An alliance representing small venues across the UK – this umbrella organisation helps protect, secure and improve Grassroots Music Venues. They aim to secure the long-term future of iconic Grassroots Music Venues which have played a crucial role in the development of British music over the last 40 years, nurturing local talent, providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills. As an alliance they are able to lobby on behalf of those independent actors in the music industry and during COVID, their achievements on behalf of the struggling live music sector was inspiring.
What personal commitment can you make towards a world with better music ecosystems?
I consider the work on In Place of War essential in helping connect music ecosystems in the Global South with those in the Global North – helping to establish music studio and venue spaces in communities facing the challenges of conflict and gang war. These spaces help engage people away from conflict and nurture creative music talent, giving a space for meaningful culture to emerge – adding to the diversity of music production on the planet. We want to broker conversations between the major music companies and understand how we can work together to support those in places where access to equipment, spaces, venues and routes to exposure are limited.