Music's newest organisation limbers up for action.

Editorial Paul Williams

Whoever wins next week's US presidential election will no doubt, post- inauguration in January, come under the usual media scrutiny of what they manage to achieve in their first 100 days in office.

If a similar analysis is carried out on UK Music and it can deliver on its early aims it could make very positive reading indeed. The umbrella organisation only officially opens its doors today (Monday), but its packed early agenda immediately tells us this will be an outfit with real ambition and a drive to get things done. But then what else would you expect from an organisation which has that energetic do-er Feargal Sharkey as its chief executive?

Getting UK Music off the ground in the first place is an achievement in itself, given the industry's many contrasting and disparate voices, as well as the previous failed attempts at trying to unite the business in such a way.

But, now they have pulled that off, Sharkey and chairman Andy Heath are clearly not going to simply sit back and dwell on making this important step forward, a point emphasised by the aims they have announced to coincide with this launch.

Sharkey has long made the valid point that the industry lacks detailed research, a vital tool when trying to persuade government and others, so it is no surprise addressing this point figures early on. The planned music manifesto will similarly become an important weapon in the industry's lobbying arsenal.

It is eminently sensible, too, to look at striking liaisons with other creative sectors, such as the film industry, which share many issues, concerns and problems. Having a unified music business lobbying in the same direction is great, but any points of views/arguments put forward by the industry will only ...