By now, it’s no secret that the music and events industry is on its knees.
The report, Music by Numbers 2020, found that 65% of musicians’ income would be lost in 2020. But that figure increased to 85% for the ones that rely on live performances and events.
We know that the Culture Recovery Fund has provided £1.7 billion in grants from the government, supporting venues, festivals and 75,000 jobs. But whilst some financial help has been available, the industry as a whole remains at a standstill. As we see venues announce their permanent closure on a weekly basis, we’d be fair to question how sustainable government grants are.
Plus, with major festivals like Glastonbury already announcing their cancellation, it’s clear the issues are more long term. We can expect more to follow suit in the coming weeks as it’s just not feasible to go ahead with their plans for the summer festival season.
On a more local level, Manchester’s music scene has experienced the same upheaval. Venues are in a state of despair and many musicians are losing faith.
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As emerging talent is finding it near impossible to break into an already tough industry, concerns have been raised about the future of music here. Not being able to perform live can massively limit an artist’s visibility and opportunities. COVID-19 is ultimately preventing an entire wave of new artists from pursuing a music career.
So that’s why Business & IP Centre Manchester (BIPC) are coming up with ways to inspire and motivate new and existing musicians.
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They’ll be hosting a virtual event on 27 January, hosted by Inspiral Carpets’ bassist Martyn Walsh. From 6pm, there’ll be talks and live Q&A.
A panel of Music Industry luminaries featuring David Gedge, DJ NikNak, Mix-Stress, Jay Taylor & Lola Mitchell, hosted by Martyn Walsh in a full & frank discussion on the future of the UK's live music scene in 2021 & beyond
— BIPC Manchester #LibrariesFromHome (@BIPCManchester) January 25, 2021
They’ve invited a panel of industry experts to chat about the future of music in 2021. They’ll also explain how they’ve adapted their own music careers to overcome COVID-19 challenges – aiming to restore some much-needed hope back into Manchester’s music.
The panel of speakers will represent a variety of areas of the music industry, from artists to booking agents. Joining will be DJ Mix-Stress, DJ NikNak, Night and Day Café’s Jay Taylor, Lola Mitchell from booking agency 13 Artists as well as musician David Gedge.
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Image: Mix Stress/Instagram
Organisers know how important it is for us to understand how different the music scene looks now. In doing so, they want to uncover new ways of approaching a music career and provide inspiration for those struggling to keep their current ones afloat.
Titled ‘Reset. Restart: Live Music in 2021… Where do we go from here’, the event forms part of the Reset. Restart programme run by the BIPC; which supports small businesses in their struggle through the pandemic by providing business future-proofing advice and training.
So, if you’re interested in learning how the music industry will look in 2021 or want some COVID-19 advice, get yourself signed up for the event here.
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Sam Fender, Billie Eilish, and The Killers announced as Reading and Leeds 2023 headliners
Emily Sergeant
Sam Fender, Billie Eilish, and The Killers are all set to perform headline sets at Reading and Leeds Festival 2023.
The first wave of acts has just been announced, and it looks like it’s going to be an awesome weekend.
There’s been lots of rumours circulating about who will be playing, but Greg James put these rumours to bed on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning, The Hoot reports.
Taking to the main stage next year as his first time headlining a major festival will be Tyneside indie favourite Sam Fender, US pop megastar Billie Eilish – who this year became the youngest Glastonbury headliner ever – and indie rock legends The Killers.
Other headliners include Oxford rockers Foals, Scottish singer songwriter Lewis Capaldi, and American pop band Imagine Dragons.
And it doesn’t just stop there either.
Sam Fender, and Billie Eilish have been announced as Reading and Leeds 2023 headliners / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Also performing at the festival is British MC Loyle Carner, Isle Of Wight indie-rock duo Wet Leg, and dance heavyweight Becky Hill.
Also confirmed for the 2023 festival is Bicep, Central Cee, Chase Atlantic, Declan McKenna, Don Broco, Eliza Rose, Georgia, Inhaler, LF System, Lil TJay, Lovejoy, Meekz, Nessa Barret, Nothing But Thieves, Shy FX, Slowthai, Songer, Steve Lacy, The Snuts, Tion Wayne, Trippie Redd, Yung Lean, and You Me At Six.
More than a 100 artists are expected to grace the stages at Bramham Park and Little John’s Park next year.
Further exciting announcements are expected to come over the following months.
Reading and Leeds Festival 2023 takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend / Credit: Reading and Leeds
As always, Reading and Leeds Festival 2023 will once again be happening over the August Bank Holiday weekend between Friday 25 – Sunday 27 August, with tickets set to go sale next Monday 12 December 2022 at 9am.
With a lineup like that, and even more to come, we expect they’re going to fly off the shelves, so make sure to get your alarms set ready.
Grab your tickets here on the Reading and Leeds Festival 2023 website here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Watch Eurovision star Sam Ryder surprise Mancs with busking set at St Peter’s Square
Danny Jones
Eurovision star Sam Ryder caught local Mancunians off-guard when he popped up to perform a surprise busking set in St Peter’s Square.
Making the unexpected appearance on Thursday, 8 December, the ‘Space Man’ singer left passers-by and locals simply going about their workday chuffed to bits as he played a number of recognisable hits.
While Mancs were wrapped up in their winter layers, they were more than happy to stand around and listen to the soulful singer do renditions of Queen, Stevie Wonder, as well as a couple of his own songs.
The 33-year-old who came second to Ukraine in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest obviously played his smash-hit entry as well as one his most recent tracks, ‘All The Way Over’.
He went on to explain he and his team had decided to travel across the country to perform a number of these surprise sets to not only promote his upcoming album, but to spread some festive cheer and return some of the love he’s received from the nation this year.
Ryder wasn’t the only one to surprise Manc music lovers with a live performance this week either.
The Essex boy seemed to have a lot of appreciation for the city of Manchester and it certainly looks to be reciprocated.
His new record, There’s Nothing But Space, Man!, drops on Friday 9 December and he’s hoping to whip up regional support with surprise sets like this to send his album to number one in time for Christmas.
You can watch Sam Ryder’s surprise set back again in full on our Facebook Live below:
Hannah Starkie -
25th January 2021 
