BPI Reception and Panel appearances by BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE and BPI CSO Sophie Jones

Plus BPI presents:  “Innovation in Music Meet Up: A Gathering for Innovation, Industry & Ideas” – sign up here

The BPI, the association for UK record companies and labels, and a founding member of Beyond the Music, will have its strongest presence yet at the annual conference and festivals global music event, which takes place in Manchester next week between 9 – 12 October.

On 10 October, BPI Chief Executive, Dr Jo Twist OBE will take part in the panel (11.45am) at Aviva Studios moderated by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham – Growing the Grassroots: How cross-industry investment can save the music ecosystem. This will explore how the foundations of the UK music industry and its ecosystem can be strengthened, and Jo will look to highlight the critical importance of music and creative arts education and how a greater breadth of diverse creative talent can be supported into the music industry. In this, she will also look to reference the new specialist creative school due to open in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 2027, while also acknowledging the urgent need to address the decline in music venues.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO, said:
“Beyond the Music has become an incredibly important forum for developing a holistic and strategic view of how our industry responds to the global and local context we work in, and the innovation and societal pressures that are transforming our sector. The BPI is delighted to be a founder member and to have a strong presence at this year’s event.”

Later, at 2.00pm, BPI Chief Strategy Officer, Sophie Jones, will feature in a panel moderated by UK Music’s Andy Edwards – The New Economic Frontier: Building the Next Music Industry Paradigm. Panellists will discuss how to reconcile the competing demands and interests of the component parts of an industry that is seeing long-established ways of releasing and monetising music come under increasing pressure. Sophie will highlight the need for our industry to unite and make an evidenced-based case to government to press for growth so that even more artists and creators can benefit from streaming and coming innovations. She will stress the critical mission of ensuring human artistry retains its place at the heart of creativity as we look to realise the exciting potential of AI.   

Hot on its heels, at 3.00pm, Innovation in Music Meet Up: A Gathering for Innovation, Industry & Ideas will appeal to music tech innovators or entrepreneur looking to grow their network or work with or hear direct feedback from the music industry. It will provide a networking opportunity for investors looking for bright new ideas to back; or a music industry exec hoping to connect with the best and brightest in innovation.  Attendees will benefit from one-to-one meetings with a range of industry and financial professionals, sharing new ideas, hearing feedback and reactions and making new connections. Presented by BPI Insight and Innovation and borne of collaboration on the inaugural 2024 Grow Music business support programme – those interested to attend can sign up here.

The BPI’s day at Beyond the Music will draw to a close with its BPI Reception, which will take place at The Roof Deck & Dome, ABC Buildings between 6.30-8.00pm.

Beyond the Music: Unifying the global music industry to deliver an international strategy for music

As the music and content 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 and content industry and turn the challenges into opportunities to overhaul and advance to shine a light on exciting new talent and groundbreaking artists from across the world.

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 and content industry’s place in the new cultural economy by bringing together tech, AV, gaming, brands, and more to build a creative alliance for the future.

Beyond The Music is a place to gather artists, entrepreneurs, creatives and music and content 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 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.