Lancashire Music Summit 2024:
Programme
Thank you to everyone who attended our first-ever Lancashire Music Summit. It was incredible to see over 200 stakeholders together in one room to begin discussing what we need to develop Lancashire's music industry, and our aim to defragment and become a united force for success in our county's music ecosystem.
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We would also like to thank our esteemed panellists listed below, for sharing their valuable insights into what success in the industry looks like, and how we can harness this within our county to amplify the great things we do within our industry here in Lancashire
We look forward to hosting more industry events soon, and hope that you will continue supporting our shared goals of making Lancashire's music industry a force to be reckoned with.
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PANEL 1: DEVELOPING OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY – INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECOSYSTEMS
ANN HARRISON
Consultant Solicitor to the Music Industry & Author
Dr Ann Harrison is a consultant Solicitor. She is experienced in all aspects of music business contracts, copyright and protection of rights, Ann particularly enjoys working with the talent and entrepreneurial side of the business.
She has clients that represent all genres of music and are at all stages of their careers from those completely new to the business through to chart-topping artists. Ann is the author of Music: The Business published by Penguin Random House which is the key textbook on all music business further education courses in the UK. Ann co-edited and co-wrote The Present and Future of Music Law with Tony Rigg, published by Bloomsbury.
BEN RAPP
Deputy Head of Service, Lancashire Music Hub
For the past nine years, Ben has been a Regional Manager at Lancashire Music Service (LMS), which is now the new Hub Lead Organisation for Lancashire Music Hub (LMH). Previously a music teacher in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Sydney, he now serves as LMS’s Deputy Head, where he developed a music technology strategy for mainstream and specialist (SEND) schools. Ben also launched an accessible instruments and music technology library and manages schools, teachers, and resources, along with responsibilities for Lancashire County Council (LCC) and LMH.
CIARAN MONTAGUE
Employment Lawyer
Ciaran is a practising employment lawyer. He also has an MA in the music business with a particular interest in copyright and contract law. He is also a freelance lecturer and guest speaker as well as a keen amateur musician. He is interested in supporting Lancashire’s music communities from within the county.
DAVID WOOD
Award-Winning Musician & Business Leader
Dr. David Wood is a British investor and award-winning musician and businessman. Through over forty years of experience and a lifetime of study, he has accumulated an in-depth tacit and explicit knowledge of the music, entertainment, technology, retail, intellectual property, and manufacturing industries.
He holds several prestigious qualifications, including an Honorary Doctorate from Lancaster University, and post-nominal letters HonsFDip FRSA DipMusTh AMusLCM MIoD.
His current business life includes: Y1 Investments, where he owns a stake in over four-hundred enterprises around the world; dwIP, where he owns twelve UK trademarks; Faith & Hope Records Limited, who had a string of charts hits - including a UK #1 - and have their music on Hollywood films, the adverts of World leading brands, and television programmes globally; and Promenade Music Limited, who own “one of the largest and best stocked music shops in the North of England”.
David is currently a Leader in Residence at the University of Central Lancashire’s Faculty of Culture and the Creative Industries and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His career highlights include receiving the NODA ‘Musical Director of the Year’ award in 1987 and winning a ‘Business of the Year’ award in 1997 at the Business Link North Lancashire Business Awards.
DANIEL JONES
Writer Relationship Manager, PRS for Music
Daniel Jones is PRS for Music’s Writer Relationship Manager, based in Manchester, and serves as a key point of contact for songwriters, composers, and publishers around the world. With a focus on both established industry professionals and emerging talent, Daniel works to raise awareness and understanding of PRS for Music’s role in protecting and growing the value of music creators' rights.A frequent speaker at industry conferences across the UK, Daniel also brings a musician’s perspective to his role, having played guitar and bass in several bands. He has contributed as a music journalist to both online and print outlets. PRS for Music represents over 160,000 members worldwide, ensuring they are paid transparently for their musical works across all platforms.
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PANEL 2: THE SOCIAL CONSUMPTION OF MUSIC
TONY RIGG
Music Industry Advisor & Educator
Tony Rigg is a Music Industry Advisor, Practitioner, and Educator at the University of Central Lancashire, where he leads the Master’s Programme in Music Industry Management, which he co-founded in 2012 with Peter Hook and co-chairs the university's Music Research Group and supervises PhD candidates. He also collaborated with Hebei University (HBU) in China to set up the Music Industry Management MA programme launched in 2023.With senior management experience at leading music and entertainment organisations, including the role of Operations Director at Ministry of Sound, Tony has overseen over 100 music venues and delivered thousands of events. He is the Director of the Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival and has a chart pedigree as an artist and producer featured on chart-topping and gold-selling albums.He co-edited and co-wrote the books Popular Music in the Post-digital Age: Politics, Economy, Culture and Technology (Bloomsbury 2018), The Future of Live Music (Bloomsbury 2020), The Evolution of Electronic Dance Music (Bloomsbury 2021) and The Artistry and Legacy of Queen (Bloomsbury 2024) with Ewa Mazierska, plus The Present and Future of Music Law (Bloomsbury 2022) with Ann Harrison.
AARON MELLOR
CEO & Managing Director, Tokyo Industries (UK)
Aaron is a group managing director and CEO at Tokyo Industries Limited who operate 48 of the UKs coolest music venues in the UK, alongside an international portfolio of 19 venues including locations in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, New York, Dubai, Croatia and Ibiza, plus a number of music festivals, labels and activities in the fashion industry. He grew this business out of a northern provincial town.
RICHARD DYER
Co-Founder Skiddle & Highest Point Festival
Richard is the co-founder of Skiddle.com and the Highest Point Festival. He started Skiddle with Ben Sebborn in 2001 out of frustration from the lack of online information about events they loved, to create a what’s on guide.Both gig promoters and big ravers, their passion for music events in the north of England and beyond formed the business' bedrock, quickly expanding across the UK and further afield. In 2006, Skiddle started selling tickets and has become one of the UK's most loved ticketing services. They sell for big names such as Reading, Leeds, Creamfields and the Warehouse Project. In 2016 he co-founded Highest Point Festival alongside Jamie Scahill and Holly Wignall.
MICHAEL KILL
CEO, Night Time Industries Association
Michael Kill is the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and a leading advocate for the UK’s nighttime economy. With decades of experience in independent, corporate, and public sector roles, he specializes in marketing, operations, licensing, and logistics. Mike has held senior positions, including Group Operations Director for The Drink Group and Commercial Director at Norwich University, where he developed strong relationships with industry leaders, local authorities, and community stakeholders.Throughout his career, Mike has played a key role in shaping best practices for venues, festivals, and live events, and his efforts have been instrumental in developing operational strategies and national event frameworks. As CEO of the NTIA, Mike has become a prominent voice for the sector, advocating for businesses during the Covid-19 crisis and pushing for long-term industry reform. His leadership continues to drive innovation and support for operators and creatives across the UK and beyond.
MATHEW FLYNN
Director of the Institute of Popular Music, University of Liverpool
Dr Mathew Flynn is a Senior Lecturer in Music Industries at the University of Liverpool (UoL) and Director of the Institute of Popular Music (IPM).Before joining UoL, he taught music business and professional development on the BA Music degree at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).Prior to teaching in higher education, Mat worked as a mentor on the New Deal for Musicians programme, and before and during that time was also a self-employed practitioner in the music industries, owning rehearsal rooms and an independent record label. In 2020 he was awarded a PhD for research that explored how UK based musicians make creative and career-based decisions. He has (co)authored numerous research articles, book chapters and reports on the music industries, covering topics such as the impact of the pandemic on the LCR’s music sector, the education of copyright, audiences’ engagement with streaming, and musicians’ decision-making.His work with the Liverpool City Region Music Board has seen Mat deliver and maintain the LCRs Live Music Map and the Venues Subgroup Blog, develop the business case, research, and coordinate the working group that delivered the return of N1 Night Bus in 2023, in conjunction with the Black Music Action Group.
JAY TAYLOR
English National Coordinator, Music Venue Trust
Jay Taylor is English National Coordinator for the Music Venue Trust, a UK registered charity established in 2014 that acts to protect, secure and improve the UK's Grassroots Music Venue circuit. MVT provides advice to the government, the cultural sector and the music industry on issues impacting the network of venues and is the nominated representative that speaks on behalf of the Music Venues Alliance, an association of over 850 venues from across the UK. Jay is also co-chair of the Greater Manchester Music Commission, whose role is to support, develop and promote music across Greater Manchester and to advise and support GM Mayor Andy Burnham.
JEREMY ROWLANDS
Co-Director of the Continental and The Ferret, Preston
Jeremy Rowlands is the Co-Director of two Preston city venues, the Continental and The Ferret. The Ferret, a 200-capacity music venue on Fylde Road in Preston, which has hosted shows by Ed Sheeran, Buzzcocks and Idles, was under threat after the building which houses it was put up for sale. Earlier this year it was purchased by the Music Venue Trust, through the ‘Own Our Venues’ scheme, securing its future as a grass roots music venue. The Ferret has signed a “cultural lease” with MVP that states that as long as it continues to operate as a grassroots live music space for the local community, then they can continue to enjoy use of the building.
PANEL 3: ARTISTRY AND SUSTAINABLE CAREERS
JOHN ROBB
Bassist & Singer for The Membranes, Author, Journalist & Broadcaster
John Robb is a many-faceted creature. Bassist and singer for post-punk mainstays The Membranes, author, journalist, DJ, publisher, vegan behemoth and talking head, he’s all these things and more.He grew up in Blackpool before punk rock came along and saved his life.He was one of the leading post punk fanzine writers in the UK with ‘Rox’ before he went on to write for the rock press with Sounds and was the first person to interview Nirvana and coined the expression Britpop and was instrumental in kick starting and documenting the Madchester scene with his writing. His music and culture website louderthanwar.com is currently one of the biggest music and culture sites in the UK.He also currently writes books and articles, runs a music and books festival called Louderthanwar. He’s also a political campaigner who chairs committees in Parliament and is an in demand speaker with his spoken word show spawned by the success of his talks of TEDx on punk, zen and the universe and also for his talks of veganism and punk rock.
JOHNNY JAY
DJ & Music Producer
Johnny Jay is a Black British DJ and music producer & in a career spanning over 35 years, he has worked with most Major Record and Publishing Companies, producing and remixing for artists as diverse as Stone Roses, East 17, Fatboy Slim etc. In the 1980s, he organized, promoted and djed over 200 hip hop and dance music events for young people giving local emerging artists like A guy called Gerald and MC Tunes opportunities to perform and showcase their work. He also was also a finalist in the UK DMC DJ Mixing Championships.
MARIANNE BARRACLOUGH
Executive Director, More Music
Marianne Barraclough is the Executive Director of More Music, with over 18 years of experience in leading creative music programmes. Before joining More Music, Marianne served as Deputy Chief Executive – Programme at Sinfonia Viva, where she designed and delivered innovative music projects in collaboration with renowned artists, venues, music hubs, and local authorities nationwide.Her extensive expertise spans a variety of community music settings, strategic leadership, and securing support from key funders such as Arts Council England, corporate partners, and Trusts and Foundations.
WILLIAM WOLSTENHOLME
Radio Presenter, BBC Introducing
Will presents the BBC’s local new music programme for Lancashire and Cumbria, BBC Introducing in Lancashire & Cumbria, and also produces BBC Introducing in Manchester. He has been at the BBC since 2018, and before that was a promoter for Scruff of the Neck and writer for several North West music blogs including Bittersweet Symphonies.When not on the radio, Will spends most of his time searching the region’s small venues for the most exciting unheard artists and digging through the crates of its record shops. He also plays drums in the band Denim Breakfast.
AZIZ IBRAHIM
Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Producer Indus Records Ltd
Guitarist, Dr Aziz Ibrahim, is a creative producer, music designer and composer who has branched out as label manager, content creator, curator and speaker. He has worked with Ian Brown, Stone Roses, Paul Weller, Simply Red, Asia and many other globally celebrated artists.He is also active in the arts having delivered three successful projects for Arts Council England as well as several international concert and lecture tours for the British Council. This culminated in an invitation to Buckingham Palace from HM the Queen for his contribution to the culture and economy of the UK. Aziz has been awarded a Dr of Arts (honoris causa) by the University of Salford.Aziz's contributions in music education and humanities are many, including BBC Introducing masterclasses and a masterclass series presented at universities both abroad and in the UK - as well as prison mentoring and homeless shelter work.
CHRIS JOYCE
Drummer & member of several bands including Simply Red
Chris Joyce is a renowned drummer best known for his work with Simply Red in the 1980s. His musical journey began in Manchester with Fast Breeder, a short-lived punk group he co-founded with guitarist Dave Rowbotham in the late 1970s. The band was managed by Tony Wilson, who later invited Joyce and Rowbotham to join forces with Vini Reilly and Tony Bowers to form The Durutti Column. That lineup recorded two tracks on Factory Records' debut EP, A Factory Sample, before Joyce, Rowbotham, and Bowers left to create the post-punk band The Mothmen in 1979.The Mothmen released two studio albums and several singles before disbanding in the 1980s. During this period, Joyce also collaborated with groups such as Pink Military, Pete Wylie and the Mighty Wah and artist Judy Nylon. In the mid-1980s, he worked with Suns of Arqa on their second album Wadada Magic before co-founding Simply Red alongside Tony Bowers and singer Mick Hucknall. He is currently working with Adrian Sherwood and ON-U SOUND RECORDS and various sessions.
JAMIE TURNER
Managing Director, Actual Music
Jamie Turner is a record producer, keys player and managing director of Actual Music. Born and bred in Lancashire, Jamie graduated from LIPA in 2012 and went on to launch Musique, an award-winning music & entertainment supplier. With the support of Arts Council England, Jamie led an acclaimed artist development programme for Lancashire musicians in 2024 and is about to embark on a grassroots live music programme, putting on 132 gigs in Blackburn over the next 6 months. Jamie is also a director of music education specialist SoMi Academy CIC and guest lectures at LIPA and Royal Northern College of Music.
EVIE PLUMB
Lead Vocalist, LOWES - Musician, Educator, Songwriter
Evie Plumb is a musician from the rural North West, raised between Chipping in Lancashire, Windermere, and Eskdale in the Lake District. Working across many spheres from songwriter, to teacher, and lead vocalist, to guest keys player, Evie lives and breathes a life of music and has done since an early age. She started gigging at age 14 (in 2009 - you do the maths!) and is now part of five different acts working as a vocalist and pianist. At the age of 21, she signed publishing and record deals with Sony International and Sony ATV with her band LOWES, and in 2021, she won BBC Radio 1's Dance Vocalist of the Year. Now she writes for some of the biggest names in the dance industry including CamelPhat, Sub Focus, Vintage Culture, Solardo, and more. These are just the highlights however, and Evie is keen to reassure her 51 young students (at Kendal College where she now lectures part time) that the day to day life of a musician is made up of more humble and passionate work. She still gigs around 4 nights a week all over the North West and is just as happy sat in a folk session in some Lakeland valley, or teaching singing to a young student, as she is playing to 10,000 people at Reading & Leeds Festival!
PANEL 4: OPEN FORUM
TONY RIGG
Music Industry Advisor & Educator
Tony Rigg is a Music Industry Advisor, Practitioner, and Educator at the University of Central Lancashire, where he leads the Master’s Programme in Music Industry Management, which he co-founded in 2012 with Peter Hook and co-chairs the university's Music Research Group and supervises PhD candidates. He also collaborated with Hebei University (HBU) in China to set up the Music Industry Management MA programme launched in 2023.With senior management experience at leading music and entertainment organisations, including the role of Operations Director at Ministry of Sound, Tony has overseen over 100 music venues and delivered thousands of events. He is the Director of the Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival and has a chart pedigree as an artist and producer featured on chart-topping and gold-selling albums.
EWA MAZIERSKA
Professor of Film Studies, University of Central Lancashire
Dr Ewa Mazierska is a Professor at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Research Coordinator for REF Unit 33. Ewa has published over 20 monographs and edited collections on music and culture, including the collaborations with Rigg plus Sounds Northern: Popular Culture, Music and Place in England’s North (Equinox 2018). She is also the principal editor of Studies of Eastern European Cinema.