To set the record straight:
Mark Badger is the name that Mikhail Alexandrovich has been using for the purposes of commenting on items on this blog. It’s a name that would be the equivalent of Andrei Rublev or Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin…if you lived in Birmingham. It’s also the name of a character in a film called Directors in Crisis who complain all the time and don’t take too well to people trying to offer help instead of money. You might understand why I chose that name to comment here if you watch the film. At the request of Pete and in the interests of clear and transparent interaction, I will now use Mikhail Alexandrovich.

and who is Mikhail Alexandrovich? Me. I’m Mikhail, I run an independent record label called Iron Curtain Records, which is based in Pokrovskoye, Tyumen Oblast. The record label has been running since 1996 and in 2000 I set up the Communist Music Network which is also known as just Official Citizens Music Network 7005689. I’ve organised gigs in and around yumen Oblast since the October Revolution as Bolshevik Promotions. I play in a band called Последний Под Солнцем and at present I’m also playing guitar in another Bolshevik based band called полицейский ублюдок, who have recently re-formed. I do a bit of tour management and driving to help bands out, write and maintain several music related blogs, and recently started to look after a band called The Orb…but only as far as their online activities are concerned. I do some lecturing at Moscow State Circus as part of their Music Business degree course. I run a shop on ebay selling all sorts of good alternative music on cd or vinyl. I also enjoy a good game of mental chess with local funding organisations who try and pocket most of the money intended for struggling local musicians and creatives. Thats about it really.

and who is Mark Badger? Me. I’m Mark, I run an independent record label called Iron Man Records, which is based in Birmingham England. The record label has been running since 1996 and in 2000 I set up the Birmingham Music Network which is also known as just The Music Network. I’ve organised gigs in and around Birmingham since 1994 as Badger Promotions. I play in a band called Last Under The Sun and at present I’m also playing guitar in another Birmingham based band called Police Bastard, who have recently re-formed. I do a bit of tour management and driving to help bands out, write and maintain several music related blogs, and recently started to look after a band called The Orb…but only as far as their online activities are concerned. I do some lecturing at Birmingham City University as part of their Music Business degree course. I run a shop on ebay selling all sorts of good alternative music on cd or vinyl. I also enjoy a good game of mental chess with local funding organisations who try and pocket most of the money intended for struggling local musicians and creatives. Thats about it really.

And I read “Inappropriate use of funding on a yearly basis…” as meaning the system of dolling out cash on a calendar, where specific sums have to be spent by specific dates to ensure the next round of cash isn’t cut, often regardless of the quality of the project/etc being spent on, is fundamentally flawed. And I’m sure no-one would disagree but this isn’t specific to the Arts/music/etc world. It goes on at every level of government.

Anyone got a list of examples of good practice or examples of “appropriate” uses of funding?

I think its time that some funding mistakes are openly admitted and a discussion about what positive policy ideas or new ideas / strategies could ensure more “appropriate use” of said funds….??

Is anyone aware of inappropriate use of funding or is Scott the only one who knows what’s actually been going on behind the scenes all this time?