A new music industry conference is happening in Manchester next month, with a host of guest speakers heading to the city to take part in talks, workshops and panel events, as well as live music and club nights happening over four days.
Pop icon Rita Ora will be appearing at Beyond The Music, taking on the keynote address with her talent manager sister Elena Ora and Sarah Stennet, founder of talent and entertainment agency FAE grp.
The event, which takes place at The Midland Hotel, Versa Studios and Halle St Peters, will also feature a panel lead by Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham, who will be discussing the challenges facing the city’s grass roots music scene in the wake of the pandemic, staff shortages, soaring costs around the industry.
The opening keynote will be hosted by veteran music industry consultant and manager Keith Harris OBE and Michael Adex, founder and CEO of NQ, and manager of acts including Aitch.
Elsewhere, there will be talks from John Vlassopulos, of Napster, with the likes of BBC Introducing, Sony Music, Warner, YouTube, EMI North, Amazon Music and Bandcamp all in the city for the event.
Subjects on the table will include burnout and mental health in the music industry, sustainability and reaching net zero, the experiences of black women in the music industry, the place of politicians in music, and celebrating the women of hip hop as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The final day will be a free-to-attend event at Halle St Peters, featuring workshops and panels, open to those who might want to work in the music industry.
Meanwhile, venues including Band on the Wall, The Castle, Gulliver’s, Night + Day, The Peer Hat, Ramona and Stage & Radio will be among those hosting live music events over the four days.
Among those performing will be the likes of Akemi Fox, The KTNA, The Orielles and Bay Bryan.
It takes place from October 11 to 14. Details can be found here.
