Beyond The Music, a new global music conference and festival, announces its first edition to take place in Manchester, UK, running 11-14 October 2023.

06 February 2023 - Press release

Beyond The Music, a new global music conference and festival, today announces its first edition to take place in Manchester, UK, running 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 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.

Beyond The Music announces its arrival by naming one of Manchester’s greatest ever bandsas its first ambassadors. New Order will launch Beyond The Music with an exclusive SXSW concert, at The Moody Theatre on 13 March 2023, with support fromManchester 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 co-founder Oli Wilson says, “It’s a pivotal time in the history of the music industry and for Manchester, so it’s only right the two are coming together again to decide what the future is going to look like. 

Building on our civic traditions of innovation and cooperation we are creating a forum for the music industry to shape its future in the new cultural economy, and delivering a new music festival that will realign Manchester as the global capital of music. 

Whether it has been with technology or creating new business models within the industry, from the very beginning of their career, New Order have always led the curve. Now in 2023 we are proud to have New Order as our first artists ambassadors, as they embody the spirit of Manchester and share the same commitment to innovation as Beyond The Music.” 

New Order add, "We're supporting Beyond The Music to help change and innovation in the music industry, particularly in mental health which is something close to our hearts. Manchester is a place where this can happen, our home and the city of revolution, and we're looking forward to the launch of Beyond The Music with a live show at SXSW and being a part of this positive movement for the music industry.”

Taking place in Manchester - the beating heart of the UK’s cultural enterprise and a city historically known for social change - Beyond The Music will create a global forum and live music festival, defining the music industry’s place in the new cultural economy by bringing together tech, AV, gaming, brands, and literature to build a creative alliance for the future. Beyond The Music is a place to gather artists, entrepreneurs, creatives and music industry professionals over the course of three days with funders, businesses and organisations in order to maximise impact and take solutions to scale whilst putting the spotlight back on live and new music discovery alongside world class artists.

The first edition of Beyond The Music will take place on 11-14 October 2023 across venues and skylines in and around the city. 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 is set up as a co-operative - the first festival and conference to have integrated decision-making structure to create actions, and exist as more than just a talking shop. By participating in Beyond the Music, everyone  will have a stake and a say.

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, and a committee that includes Michael Adex, CEO of NQ, and Jane Beese Director of Music, MIF / Factory International. 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.

Beyond The Music 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. 

Further details to follow shortly. 

For more information and updates join Beyond The Music HERE. 

Additional quotes:

‘Beyond The Music will be the most innovative new offering for the international music industry and a parliament for UK music. Discovering new talent, breaking new boundaries and going beyond the conventional, it’s no surprise it’s formed in Greater Manchester, where tech meets content meets social reform. It couldn’t be more fitting then to launch at SXSW in Texas with exciting new talent The Orielles and Loose Articles alongside the masters of musical innovation New Order and we can’t thank them all enough for helping us put Beyond the Music on the global industry map.’ - Andy Burnham,Greater Manchester Mayor and Beyond The Music founding ambassador 

"We're delighted and honoured to be supporting such an acclaimed and influential band as New Order at SXSW. We will be proudly representing Manchester's new generation of music makers, with the same pioneering and Avant Garde spirit. See you in Austin!" - The Orielles  

We are going West to SXSW! It feels surreal, and being asked to support the best band of our lifetime, Manchester legends New Order, is a pinch me moment for all of us.  Plus, we get to share this experience with the amazing Orielles, making this experience even more special.” - Loose Articles