WMF Suspends Operations

The Welsh Music Foundation (WMF) has immediately suspended its operations as of this week following the expiration of a three-year funding agreement with the Welsh Government.

As explained in this post on WMF’s website, a six-month extension on the agreement was offered by the Welsh Government to allow the development agency to continue providing its core services and secure alternate funding streams.

The Board rejected this proposal as “unviable” and suspended all operations as of Tuesday 1st July. All three staff will be made redundant as a result.

The statement from the WMF Board said: “It is highly regrettable to be closing our office and operations and we are extremely concerned for the hiatus in service to the music industry of Wales that this causes. However, having carefully considered a number of options, and in the knowledge that there is no further commitment from Welsh Government to fund our service to the industry, it is the only responsible option currently available to us”.

It continued: “The Board of WMF remain committed and will seek new investment and partnerships to support the development of the music industry in Wales”.

The company was founded 14 years ago and was receiving its annual revenue in the form of a £160,000 grant. Over 14 years, WMF provided tangible support and advice for promoters, artists and labels based in Wales and were also instrumental in delivering major events such as WOMEX to Cardiff in 2013.