Hundreds of music artists, experts, and politicians gathered in Manchester this week to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry, including AI and the economics of streaming, struggling grassroots artists and venues, and behind-the-scenes misogyny. Participants included rapper Aitch, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, independent entrepreneurs, and label executives.
Currently in its second year, Beyond The Music is a city festival by night and a conference by day. It was organized as a cooperative to address the “unprecedented and urgent challenges” facing the industry, as well as to assist smaller venues and showcase emerging talent.
Wilson co-founded the event with Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, a group that supports independent co-ops, and Sarah Pearson, founder of the Wasted Youth Music PR business. He claims that the industry is having problems “across the board,” from the “imminent existential threat” of artificial intelligence (AI) to the economic model that ensures “all the money’s staying at the top” in both live and recorded music.
