Eric reckons ... you know Eric, the EMI chap, yes? ... well, he reckons that the government should be improving the music curriculum in schools while offering music companies tax incentives for investing in research type shenanigans.
Mr Nicoli was speaking at a government organised Music Industry Summit at the British Library in London yesterday. On educational type things, Billboard reports that he told the Summit: "We need more done to stimulate creativity in schools: music is something which we know especially inspires young people - yet where is it now on the curriculum? We need help devising the right skills and training to keep us fit for the future". Schools should also, Nicoli added, have a role in educating children about copyright issues: "We need help with educating consumers and young people to respect copyright".
On more commercial matters, Eric was keen to stress that the music industry invests more than most other sectors in research and development and, while he doesn't advocate government subsidy for such work, he does think tax incentives could be made for making and expanding such development work. Nicoli: "Given that we spend more than many other sectors - including manufacturing - on research and development as a percentage of sales, it would be good to have similar financial incentives such as tax breaks".
He's right you know. I'm off to make a protest banner - 'Less Taxes, More Recorder Lessons' - see you in Westminster.