Staying optimistic in today’s music industry can feel like a full-time job, but the spirit of perseverance was impossible to miss at last month’s Un-Convention, held across two days at Manchester’s Band on the Wall. Bringing together international artists, venues, festivals, innovators and organisers, the conference served as a reminder of why the industry keeps going; collective resilience, curiosity, and the desire to build something better.
The event opened with a State of the Nation panel that cut straight to the heart of the challenges facing the sector. Speakers tackled issues ranging from the rising operational costs that prevent venues from hiring staff, to the need for risk-taking, nurturing talent, and ensuring opportunities exist on everybody’s doorstep. A key theme emerged early and echoed throughout the conference; many conditions long accepted as “normal” in the music industry wouldn’t be in any other industry.
Conversations turned to structural change, how venues might be recognised by local governments as serious businesses, how touring grants could reshape sustainability, and how we might safeguard grassroots artists in an era of AI. Not every question found an answer, but Un-Convention has always been more about sparking the right conversations than providing quick answers.
Regional pride ran strong, with the north’s rising cultural prominence spotlighted through major events such as the Mercury Prize in Newcastle, The BRITs in Manchester, and Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland. Panels on independent labels, led by Music Ally’s Joe Sparrow, offered pragmatic insight into resisting trend-chasing, creating real-world experiences, and building flexible models that fit artists, and not the other way around.
Between sessions, Scott Cohen’s fireside conversation with Un-Convention co-founder Jeff Thompson was a standout. Cohen’s journey from early tech experiments to founding The Orchard was a reminder of how unconventional thinking has always propelled the industry forward.
Day two shifted towards the practical realities of survival. The Road to a Thriving Live Industry panel made clear how fragile the ecosystem remains; venues under 400 cap, the backbone of the UK’s grassroots touring circuit, are unable to make a profit under current conditions. The Jacaranda team illustrated a new kind of resilience, as they operate not just as a venue, but also as a record store, and national promoter to diversify revenue and stay sustainable.
Discussions also turned to the LIVE Trust ticket levy, a developing initiative aiming to redistribute revenue across the sector. Speakers noted that some of these industry initiatives might need to be reworded or reframed to win wider acceptance, even when the underlying goal is universally beneficial. Earlier in the day, panels on mental health from Skiddle, Headstock, Tonic Music, BAPAM and artist Shocka emphasised the need for accessible information, better visibility of support organisations, and clearer language that encourages artists to seek help early on.
What makes Un-Convention special is its mix of honesty and hope. Nobody pretends our problems aren’t real, but for two days in Manchester, it felt like the solutions might just be within reach.
LLIVELY Music 