Annual Report - Activities


In February we embarked on the first of our overseas adventures by setting up the first ever meeting of 'studio producer' organisations at the AES Convention in Paris. Held fittingly in a recording studio in the same exhibition complex as the Convention itself, around 50 delegates from 8 countries attended a meeting which focused almost entirely on 'neighbouring rights' issues as they are known in Europe.

Contact with the overseas organisations has been spasmodic since the February meeting, largely due to pressure of work on those who run the Re-Pros' in other countries. We hope to renew the contacts we made in Paris by holding another meeting(sponsor permitting) at the AES Convention in Copenhagen in May.

At Metropolis in March we hosted the first of Rupert Neve's 'Fireside Chats' to be held in the UK. Supported by Amek, a roomful of Neve admirers were treated Rupert's views regarding the 'digital/analogue' dilemma which include a section illustrated by circuit diagrams of different types of amplifier - a point in the evening when an unusual hush fell over the assembled multitude. Our blushes were saved by Mike Howlett who managed to retrieve from the darkest recesses of his memory a respectable number of technical terms gleaned from an electronics course he attended some 20 years earlier.

In April, we held a seminar at the the 'Sound City' event held in Bristol. Intended as an opportunity for the audience to pose questions on any subject relating to record production, in the event, and due in no small measure to the presence on the panel of Re-Pro member and education specialist, Dave Walters, the conversation rarely strayed from 'education' and the ramifications of the new 'National Curriculum' which includes giving pupils at every school an opportunity to learn about how to 'record' music.

In July, we held 'The 3M Independent Labels Forum' at Whitfield Street Studios - another well-attended occasion - which was illuminated by Derek Green's generous remarks about the growth of Re-Pro and his less than generous remarks about various other players in majors record companies.

In September the annual trip to Manchester for 'In The City' was supported by a collection of Re-Pro delegates. The show plans to move to Dublin next year but I hope it will still be possible for Re-Pro to be represented.

In October Re-Pro's International ambitions and personnel resources were stretched to the limit so that Mike Howlett could represent Re-Pro at the launch of 'Re-Pro Italia' in Moderna, northern Italy at the same time as Robin Millar, Peter Filleul and Jackie were in New York, representing Re-Pro at the AES Convention and launching 'Re-Pro International'. The Italian event was described by Mike as a great success and he was able to enhance our reputation amongst our Italian colleagues to the extent of being invited to help them present their case to the Italian government.

The Re-Pro presence at the AES Convention in New York was a huge success - problems caused mainly by the 6000 mile distance and the 6 hour communications void were largely circumvented - and a hard core of US producers and producer managers were encouraged to put their energies behind forming a US Studio Producer organisation - something much overdue in the States and which we envisage taking a while to gain any real momentum.

The 3M 'I'll do it myself' Forum entertained us in November. Held at Olympic Studios in Barnes, the evening began with a salutary demonstration of the problems of hearing loss and and work-place generated hearing damage. A number of brave souls were treated to hearing tests - the results given in strictest confidence (until we need to resort to blackmail.) Under the deft hand of Steve Levine, the Forum went on to discuss many issues relating to self-manufacture and speculative ventures.

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