Beyond The Music: A brand new co-operatively run music conference and festival
News item
New co-operatively run music conference and festival announces first edition to take place across Manchester, 11-14 October 2023
As the music industry continues to shape and define global culture, it is also facing unprecedented and urgent challenges. In response, Beyond The Music is aiming 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.
The first edition of Beyond The Music will take place on 11-14 October across venues and skylines in and around Manchester. The global annual event will seek to not only solve the issues being faced today but to produce innovative models for the future.
In order to do this with meaningful effect, Beyond The Music has been set up as a co-operative. With an integrated decision-making structure to create actions, the event will be the first of its kind. By participating in Beyond the Music, everyone will have a stake and a say.
New Order, one of Manchester’s greatest ever bands, will launch Beyond The Music with an exclusive SXSW concert, at The Moody Theatre in Austin, Texas, on 13 March 2023, with support from avant-pop rockers The Orielles and post-punk quartet Loose Articles. Both supporting acts are being supported to attend SXSW by GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and were selected by the Greater Manchester Music Commission and Manchester Music Cities Network.
Beyond The Music is founded by producer, presenter, promoter and social enterprise founder Oli Wilson, working alongside BTM Director Sarah Pearson, Founder of Wasted Youth Music, and Chair of Governance Rose Marley, CEO of Co-Operatives UK.
With Beyond The Music, Oli Wilson intends to build upon the foundations laid by his father Tony Wilson, a broadcaster, journalist and creator of Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub, responsible for some of the world’s greatest music.
The conference and festival aims to unify on a global scale to deliver an international strategy for music through meaningful debate, necessary decision making, inspiring talks and unforgettable live music for all.
Beyond The Music partners:
Manchester City Council, MIF / Factory International, Co-operatives UK, CityCo, Manchester BID (Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District)