The º£½ÇÊÓƵ government has announced a nearly £7m investment in Liverpool and Merseyside's music sector, aiming to further establish the region as a hub for creativity and innovation. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport will provide £6.75m to support the local live music scene, with funds allocated towards training and resources for musicians, educators, and small businesses.
This initiative will also explore the use of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR), and investigate ways to make the live music scene more environmentally sustainable. Major establishments in the city region, including Liverpool's two universities, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the M&S Bank Arena, will be part of the MusicFutures cluster.
This was previously announced by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram as part of his plan to 'future proof' the region's music tourism, recording, and education sectors. Liverpool City Region and the West Midlands have been selected for this new funding as part of the government's Creative Industries Clusters initiative, which aims to grow specialist creative subsectors in specific º£½ÇÊÓƵ regions.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has lauded the new MusicFutures funding initiative, meant to bolster Liverpool's standing in the music world. She stated: "Liverpool and Merseyside hold a special place in our nation's music landscape, and this funding will make it even more of a hotbed for imagination and experimentation while exploring how we can make gigs more environmentally friendly."
She added: "Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. We are boosting the talented and tech-savvy firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating and driving growth in creative clusters across our regions."
Led by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), civic leaders hope MusicFutures will establish the Liverpool City Region as a music research and development 'powerhouse' over the next five years, reports .
With an emphasis on spurring R&D, employing cutting-edge technologies, as well as nurturing talent and business acumen, hopes are high that MusicFutures will significantly enhance the local music sector and secure the city's status as a notable global music hub. The scheme aims to roll out fresh funding prospects for SMEs, tailored training for music creators, and professional mentorship, thereby constructing robust pathways for musicians, industry pros, and music businesses within the broader creative economy.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram welcomed the announcement, saying: "The Liverpool City Region has a long and proud history as one of the world's most iconic places for music.
"From the Beatles to the vibrant live music scene that continues to thrive today, I'm proud that this new funding will continue to build on that legacy, ensuring we remain at the cutting edge of music innovation for years to come.
: "MusicFutures will not only elevate our cultural status on the global stage, it will also unlock new opportunities for local talent, businesses and communities – creating jobs, nurturing creativity and driving economic growth across the region."
Professor Richard Koeck from the University of Liverpool, who leads MusicFutures, said: "We have a clear goal and that is to transform the Liverpool City Region (LCR) into a global leader in music innovation. By connecting our combined world-leading research capacity with an already thriving sector ecosystem of more than 1400 businesses, we will not only further strengthen Liverpool's global reputation for music innovation, but also create a boost for other highly successful creative industry sectors in the City Region."
Professor Rachel McLean, Director of LJMU's Liverpool Screen School and Liverpool School of Art and Design, and Chair of the Liverpool City Region's Creative and Digital Cluster Board, said: "MusicFutures is a fantastic initiative which will enable us to build on the strengths of the city region's flourishing music sector and develop new opportunities for creatives and organisations in the industry.
"Liverpool recently became the world's first 'Accelerator City' for climate action, under UN Climate Change's Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) programme. Working with our partners in MusicFutures, we will use our research and innovation expertise to support the development of a sustainable and inclusive sector that equips artists and businesses to meet future challenges, ensuring they have the skills, training and experience they need to succeed."
Additionally, through collaboration with institutions like the University of Liverpool and LIPA, the initiative aims to foster talent by creating apprenticeships and enhancing skillsets for emerging musicians.
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