The Liverpool City Region is announced as a new £6.75 million UKRI Creative Cluster for the Music sector today (Wednesday 27 November).
Led by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), MusicFutures will, over the next five years, establish the Liverpool City Region as a music research and development (R&D) powerhouse and ecosystem.
The five-year funded programme, delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will catalyse growth and innovation in Liverpool City Region’s music sector. By focusing on driving R&D and innovation through emerging technologies as well as talent and business development, MusicFutures will supercharge the Liverpool City Region’s already thriving music sector and future-proof the city’s reputation as a global music city, ensuring its continued cultural and musical relevance on the world stage.
Informed by industry needs and powered by partnerships, MusicFutures brings together over 20 strategic partners from across the Liverpool City Region—including the ACC Liverpool Group, operators of Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, convention centre and exhibition centre, Adlib, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council. Working together, this partnership will leverage collective strengths to drive economic sustainability while addressing key challenges in environmental impact and inclusivity across the entire music industry value chain.
By providing new funding opportunities for both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), bespoke training for music makers, and industry mentorship, MusicFutures will fuel artistic, technological, and IP breakthroughs that will diversify and strengthen the UK’s position at the forefront of the global music industry.
Ultimately, the new music cluster will create clear pathways for musicians, professionals and businesses within the music industry and the wider creative economy – into sectors like gaming, film, and extended reality (XR) – supporting the creation of sustainable, high-paying jobs and business growth.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced the cluster while Minister of State Chris Bryant will reference the cluster in a video address to the BEYOND Conference in Salford.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “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.
“Liverpool and Merseyside hold a special place in our nation’s music landscape, and this funding will support imagination and experimentation across the city and region, as creators explore how we can make gigs more environmentally friendly.”
Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram said: “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.”
Cllr Lam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council said: “Liverpool is all about music. It’s always been a big part of our city and has put us on the map worldwide. Now, we’re ready to take it to the next level.
“We have big plans to change the game for music in Liverpool. Making the city a Creative Cluster for the Music will ensure young talent and businesses grow, as well as make music more important for everyone in our city.
“We want to create high-paying jobs, boost music tourism, and lead the way in eco-friendly music.
“I’m delighted with the announcement and I’m looking forward to working with our partners and the government to make these projects a reality.”
The Creative Cluster will enable the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University to deliver collaborative, industry demand-driven programmes. MusicFutures will foster commercial opportunities through local and external investment, while placing equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of its unique ecosystem.
By addressing regionally identified gaps in talent (skills and training) and management and business development, especially for persistently under-represented communities, it will empower over 1,400 regional music businesses to flourish and create a more fair and inclusive future industry.
The new MusicFutures clinic will serve as a hub for legal and business support, specifically designed to assist small businesses, independent creators, and innovators who lack access to professional IP services. By helping identify new opportunities for commercialisation and addressing challenges like an increasingly AI-driven landscape, the clinic aims to empower local talent.
Professor Richard Koeck from the University of Liverpool, who is leading 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 & 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.”
Alongside the University of Liverpool and LJMU, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) will deliver skills and training through creating apprenticeships for the next generation of musicians.
Professor Sean McNamara, Principal and CEO of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) said: “We are delighted to be contributing to MusicFutures, an exciting and innovative collaborative programme. This will harness our city and our region’s creative sectors through providing creative learning and professional skills development for emerging creative technologies, and the next generation of music artists and entrepreneurs.”