Last week it was the Tories and next week Manchester is being taken over by Beyond The Music. It promises to be one of the most important events of it’s kind ever held in the city. Covering subjects ranging from the use of AI and it’s implications for the music industry, diversity and sustainability surrounding live event management. It promises to be an important line in the sand for the future of the industry. As the music industry continues to shape and define global culture, it is also facing unprecedented and urgent challenges. In response, Beyond The Music aims to explore, define and tackle those issues to shape the future of the music industry and turn the challenges into opportunities to overhaul and advance. Taking place from 11-14th October 2023, the first edition of Beyond The Music offers a weekend of live new music alongside the creation of a global forum which aims to support and launch real time solutions to industry issues. By gathering artists, entrepreneurs, creatives, and music industry professionals together in the heart of Manchester, Beyond The Music aims to define the music industry’s place in the new cultural economy and build a creative alliance for the future
At the heart of the festival will be four days of live music by the most exciting new and established artists from around the world, alongside a series of conferences exploring The Past, The Present, The Future and The Summit, identifying everything from the entrepreneurs who have aided in defining Manchester’s music DNA to the new wave, the right to sustainability, ownership and equality within the industry, and how to find music’s place within the new cultural economy of tech, gaming, branding and film & TV.
Spread across 10 key venues Manchester’s Northern Quarter and city centre; the three day music festival will feature some BSM favourites such as; CLT DRP, Frankie Beetlestone, Venus Grrrls, Loose Articles, Pyncher, Deja Vega, Duvet, Mewn, Tits Up, Walt Disco, Piss Kitti, The Orielles, Tokky Horror, Seafever and The Zangwills. Tickets can be purchased here
The festival’s newly announced selection of panels offer a necessary, progressive, and groundbreakingly honest range of discussions around the most relevant topics in the music industry today. Framed in the concept of ‘Past, Present, and Future’, the panels will address topics from the new economics of music, the climate crisis, AI copyright and artist ownership, mental health strategy, to grass roots venues, international touring and visas in the wake of brexit. The opening event – The Last Supper: Manchester Legends hand over to the New Generation– will be at The Midland, before handing over hosting duties to Versa Studios for the next two days.
The weekend’s Keynote Talks will begin with Michael Adex and Keith Harris OBE’s In Conversation: Where Are We Now? Setting the tone for the entire weekend, Adex and Harris will establish the conference in the current climate. Shortly following this comes an address from the Chair of The Ivors Academy and founder of Broken Record, Tom Gray, before a discussion between Rita Ora and her award-winning manager Sarah Stennett – with perspectives from all sides of the industry, the conversation is bound to be compelling and enlightening.
Thursday will also host the GREEN SUMMIT – Green Daze: Net Zero by 2050? Moving Forward Music’s Sustainability Revolution, in partnership with AIM, with EarthPercent as Beyond The Music’s Sustainability Partner, they will question the state of the Music Climate Pact and invite experts to discuss how the industry can move towards it’s promise to be net zero by 2050. Later in the day, Mark Davyd, AO Arena, Co Op Live, and Jane Beese, will take to the floor for Who’s Feeding the Grass Roots?, unifying major players in arena touring and independent venue spokespeople, in partnership with Music Venue Trust.
Alongside these discussions comes #Endtheburnout: The Music Industry’s Duty Of Care When It Comes To Artists’ Mental Health, in partnership with LUSH. The panel will be supplementary to an overarching End The Burnout campaign to be launched at Beyond The Music – aiming to provide realistic and tangible methods of supporting the mental health of both artists and people behind the scenes.
Amongst the weekend’s programme you can also find The Mayors’ (Live) Show: Metro Leaders Come Together To Change Visa Issues For Musicians, in partnership with LIVE, spearheading the challenges faced in international touring in post-Brexit Britain. Elsewhere, you’ll find Beyond Streaming: Future Planning For The Next Technology Revolution,featuring the likes of Napster CEO Jon Vlassopulos, about the future of an industry in the hands of technology.
The scope of available topics stretches wider still – as Friday brings Black Women In The Music Industry: In Their Own Words (in partnership with Black Music Coalition) and Capital Punishment: Does the Future of the Music Business Live Outside London. With both talks addressing accessibility and diversity within the music industry, Beyond The Music will call for action in ensuring the industry is acting on its promises of increased opportunity.
There is also a free event on Sat 14th Oct, called Inspire Day, open to anyone interested in a career in the music industry.
The full list of what discussions are on offer over the weekend can be found below:
Wednesday 11th October: Past
The Last Supper: Manchester Legends hand over to the New Generation
Thursday 12th October: Present
Michael Adex & Keith Harris OBE In Conversation: Where Are We Now?
Rallying Cry: The Value Of Music
S.O.S: Re-Thinking The Economics Of Music
Artists & Revolution: What Should A Modern Music Company Look Like In 2023?
Keynote Conversation: Rita Ora, Elana Ora, and Sarah Stennett
#Endtheburnout: The Music Industry’s Duty Of Care When It Comes To Artists’ Mental Health (in partnership with LUSH)
GREEN SUMMIT – Green Daze: Net Zero by 2050? Moving Forward Music’s Sustainability Revolution (in partnership with AIM)
Capital Punishment: Does the Future of the Music Business Live Outside London?
Breaking Bad: Is Britain’s Talent Pipeline Blocked?(in partnership with BBC Introducing)
Who’s Feeding the Grass Roots? (in partnership with Music Venue Trust)
Friday 13th October: Future
Creating a UK Parliament For the Music Industry (in partnership with Musicians Union)
The Evolution Of Independent Venues: Reinvigorating the UK’s Cultural Health? (in partnership with Independent Venue Week)
Black Women In The Music Industry:In Their Own Words (in partnership with Black Music Coalition)
House of Pain: Does UK Politics Place Enough Value On Music?
Hip Hop 50: Secrets Of Success – Celebrating The Women Behind Hip Hop
The Mayors’ (Live) Show: Metro Leaders Come Together To Change Visa Issues For Musicians (in partnership with LIVE)
Rage With the Machines: Taking Charge Of The AI Evolution
Beyond Streaming: Future Planning For The Next Technology Revolution
For more info check the link here
