BIRMINGHAM IS A CITY OF FRUSTRATED ROCK STARS

O2 Undiscovered research finds that over a quarter of Brummies would quit their job tomorrow to enter the music industry

• Birmingham’s doctors, IT consultants and accountants are most likely to have unfulfilled musical aspirations
• 50% say schools don’t provide enough information on careers in music
• Paul McCartney voted most respected person in the music industry

New research has revealed that more than a quarter (29%) of the Birmingham public are frustrated rock or pop stars, and would give up their current profession for a career in the music industry and follow in the footsteps of Mike Skinner, Robert Plant or Ozzy Osbourne.

The research was commissioned by O2 Undiscovered – www.o2undiscovered.co.uk – a grass roots music programme aimed at opening up careers in the music industry to people across the UK. Throughout May, music legends such as Dave Stewart, Danny McNamara, Guy Garvey and Ian Brown will be coming together to support the O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshops, offering guidance from agents, publicists and managers on how to make it into the music industry. The programme will visit Birmingham Academy 2 on Saturday May 24th 11am-3pm.

According to the research, Birmingham’s doctors were the largest group of frustrated musicians and moguls, with 12% harbouring a desire to make it into the music business. These were followed by IT consultants (11%) and accountants (10%).

Lack of Access

The main reason cited by Brummies who aspired to make it in the music business but ultimately failed, is a lack of access to the right people (21%). However, that does not stop the Brummies trying, with 67% who strive to enter the music industry spending between one and five years trying to make it and 13% spending more than five years.

School’s Out

The research also revealed that there is a lack of support from schools and parents for today’s budding musicians, as nearly three quarters (73%) of the people surveyed said that they never felt encouraged by school or their parents to pursue a career in the music industry. Nearly half (50%) of those people said schools did not provide enough information about careers in the music industry and that music classes were not interesting.

We Love You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Paul McCartney may be millions lighter in the bank balance following his divorce battle with Heather Mills but he still holds the hearts of music lovers in the West Midlands, with nearly one in three (34%) voting him the most respected person in the music industry. Despite inflicting Robson and Jerome and Zig and Zag upon the nation’s eardrums, music’s Mr Nasty, Simon Cowell is still held in high regard, coming in second place with 11% of the vote.

Nearly a fifth (25%) of Birmingham’s wannabes also said that the band they would most like to be in is The Beatles, beating Led Zeppelin into second place with 10% of the vote and Oasis who were third with 9%.

For further information on the O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshops and to register to attend the Birmingham workshop please visit www.O2Undiscovered.co.uk.

O2 UNDISCOVERED AMBASSADORS AND PANELISTS

A&R Man, Olivier Behzadi, Sony/MTV

The Agent/Publicist, Nick Godwyn, 19 Management

The Manager, Phil Chadwick, Client: Elbow

Radio DJ/Plugger, DJ Dan, Propaganda

The Musician/Songwriter, Guy Garvey, Client: Elbow

Gig Promoter, Rag , Client: Just Jack

The Producer, Ian Stewart, Blueprint Studios

The Lawyer, Nigel Jones, Client: Kylie Minogue

Research was conducted in April 2008 interviewing 1,000 people.

About O2

O2 is a leading provider of mobile and broadband services to consumers and businesses in the UK. These services include voice, text, media messaging, games, music and video, as well as always on data connections via GPRS, 3G and WLAN. Every month, O2’s 18.4 million customers send well over a billion text messages. O2 UK is part of Telefónica O2 Europe which comprises mobile network operators in the UK, Ireland and Slovakia along with integrated fixed / mobile businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic. Telefónica O2 Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively as well as having 100% ownership of Be, a leading UK fixed broadband provider

O2 was ranked as 6th best place to work in the Best Companies to Work for 2008 List and has been awarded a three-star accreditation denoting an ’extraordinary’ company.

(For b-roll footage of O2, please visit www.thenewshub.co.uk)