On Wednesday evening, Beyond the Music officially kicked off at Aviva Studios, bringing the second edition of the hybrid conference festival. Focussed on gathering key global music industry, creative and political change-makers and influencers to discuss the future of the music industry and giving a platform to grassroots artists from across the UK and beyond.
Over 2000 attendees descended to Manchester’s streets and venues to join this year’s event, with the first event coming from BRIT award-winning, multi-platinum-selling artist Aitch as he kicked off the conference as the opening Keynote speaker, in conversation with Dotty, host of ‘The Dotty Show’ on Apple Music 1 & Lead Cultural Curator, Black Music for Apple Music UK.
‘Dotty In conversation with Aitch’ delivered insight on a range of topics, from the importance of Manchester’s musical legacy for today’s generation of artists, Aitch’s personal experiences and challenges within the industry, to the idea of decentralising London as the home of UK rap.
When asked why so many strong artists are coming out of Manchester specifically, Aitch said:
‘It’s just down to the way we are here, laid back but putting everything into our work. We’ve got a ‘get work done’ mentality while also enjoying everything whenever we can.’’
‘’I blew up because of what I did here, because of the audiences here’’
Moving on to Thursday and a full diary of keynotes and panels. The day began with a welcome brunch, opened by Leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig. While brunch was served to delegates, Cllr Craig discussed the importance of the music industry for Manchester, and how it’s an integral part of our history and future. She went on to say:
‘It’s not just about our extensive heritage, but nurturing a culture here that contributes to making this city a brilliant place to live and thrive’’
She went on to say:
‘It’s about striving for ambition, while never losing the identity of our city. Music is fundamental to our DNA and we want to continue to redefine Manchester music contributions to the world. It’s not just about the past, but celebrating our future’’
Following Cllr Craig’s address was the keynote between Tony Harlow (Warner UK) and Michael Adex (NQ) in the South Warehouse, moderated by Mark Sutherland. Discussions focused on the relationship between major and indie labels, how new artists can break through and how UK artists can compete with the rest of the world.
Later that morning, Rose Marley from Co-operatives UK moderated the panel ‘Growing the Grassroots: How cross-industry investment can save the music ecosystem’ joined by panellists from Warner, Restore the Music, BPI, Music Venue Trust and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly. They revealed the reality of living and creating at the industry’s grassroots while passing the conversation to executives across the industry to formulate a plan to ‘foolproof’ the industry.
Jon Collins (LIVE) said ‘’ There is a crisis, with more venues closing every day and touring becoming more expensive than ever. There needs to be a plan in place.’’
‘’It’s not a demand issue, it’s a price point with the supply chain issue. The current state of the economy has put pressure on the audience and the wider industry’’
Their discussion around solutions fell into four key ideas, including lowering tourism and hospitality VAT from 20%, as in many EU countries it sits below 10% and the current percentages contribute to international artists’ hardship in playing in the UK. This led to a discussion on reorganising the state of EU touring and the expenses it brings. They discussed protecting the outputs and supporting the framework and education that are the foundations of the industry. Finally, they called for government-matched funding that is seen in other sectors.
Later in the day, the delegation was treated to an address from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who discussed what’s coming up in Manchester’s future in music, celebrating the industry’s diversity and its part in promoting the UK’s music scene.
He went on to say ‘’it’s hard for someone in one of our 10 boroughs to find their way into the GM music scene, but through programmes like MBACC and Beeline – we hope the next generation have the tools to create their own music path’’
Up next was ‘Misogyny In Music: The Truth’ which gave a stage to those who wanted to share their experiences as women in the music world. In a drive to rewrite the cultural boundaries of the music business by truly understanding the difficulties women face, the panel discussed the Misogyny in Music report published last year and the previous government’s response, the work of CIISA (Creative Industries Independent Standards Agency) and the ban on inappropriate NDA’s.
The final session of the day was a roundtable run by AIM covering ‘’Regions & Nations” where they delved into the current musical landscape in Manchester. The session facilitated candid conversations and explored the needs of the local community while also presenting AIM’s resources and partnerships. It was an opportunity for open exchange, learning, and supporting existing efforts to foster a robust music ecosystem in Manchester.
Later that evening, eleven venues across the Northern Quarter hosted the first night of brand-new talent from across the world, as part of the festival portion of the week. We caught three acts at Peer Hat, Band on the Wall and The Castle Hotel across the evening. All of which had packed out audiences of people from across the industry, from management to labels, other aspiring artists and more.
The first few days of Beyond the Music were packed with meaningful dialogue, new ideas, and community-building. From addressing deep-rooted industry issues to celebrating regional music scenes, the day reflected the festival’s mission to nurture a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative music industry. Finished with a vast array of musical genius that spans across genres and tastes, showcasing some of the best talents in Greater Manchester right now.