After being dubbed one of the UK’s creative industry clusters, the government will invest £6.75 million in Liverpool’s music scene. This welcome news comes after multiple issues in the UK music industry over the past months.
Research done by The Arts and Humanities Research Council on behalf of UK Research and Innovation highlighted Merseyside as a creative industry cluster along with the West Midlands, which will also receive a £6.75 million investment in arts and creative technology firms.
The investment will bring together the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena to work toward providing funding and training for musicians, educators and small businesses. One of the main aims is to use new technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR), presumably to ensure the rich music history of Liverpool keeps up in the future with the continual developments in the technological sector.
Two new Creative Industries Clusters in the West Midlands and Liverpool will support creative technologies and research and innovation in music.
They’ll build on existing strengths to foster innovation, deliver new technologies, business models and jobs: https://t.co/CbCEmVQc6y pic.twitter.com/QG5GxErjWb
— Arts and Humanities Research Council (@ahrcpress) November 27, 2024
Another aim is to find ways for the live music industry to be more sustainable for the environment. This comes after Liverpool recently became involved in the UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture Action (EECA) programme. Professor Rachel McLean, Chair of the Liverpool City Region’s Creative and Digital Cluster Board expressed her excitement for the recent news and said: “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.”
Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music and has a musical legacy that’s known all over the world. Well now, the Region’s thriving music sector will benefit from £6.75 million from the government, to provide new funding and training! pic.twitter.com/jOlvpESlo0 — BBC Merseyside (@bbcmerseyside) November 27, 2024
The leaders of Liverpool are understandably excited by the news, considering the city’s long-standing history with music. Most notably the Beatles were formed in Liverpool in the 1960s, with many tourists and music enthusiasts alike are still attracted to the city for this reason. The Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotherham has commented, “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.”
The importance of the music industry and such funding has been highlighted once again by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, saying “Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. That’s why we are supporting firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating, using new technology and driving growth in creative clusters across the country.” (UK MUSIC) UK Music is partnering with Music Futures to ensure the investments are maximised to the fullest, protecting the UK’s music scene and developing it to ensure its longstanding history continues.
As for the wider picture, investments into the music industry such as these could not come at a more integral time, with many festivals and grassroots venues suffering in the midst of the current financial climate. More information can be found on UK Music’s official website, along with official comments from the UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl.
