Legacy programme for WOMEX 24 announced

Manchester Music City, the host partner for this year’s WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), has today announced further details of its legacy programme, WE, THE LEADERS.

Produced by Brighter Sound, WE, THE LEADERS will run alongside the main WOMEX 24 schedule with a focus on supporting and championing the new and emerging trailblazers in the music industry – both in Manchester and across the UK & Ireland.

The programme includes:

Showcases
Leadership training
Commissions
Industry roundtables
TED-style leadership lectures
A supplementary schools programme for Manchester’s young diaspora communities
A youth-led music conference for 16-30’s

With its overarching theme of ‘New Voices, New Work, Next Steps’, the programme will animate the city during WOMEX 24 and ensure a long-lasting impact beyond the event, benefiting thousands of young people, music creators and professionals, with a focus on supporting those who are currently underrepresented within the music industry.

With support from Arts Council England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and British Council, WE, THE LEADERS has 3 phases of delivery:

A pre-WOMEX programme running until October 2024
Activity in and around WOMEX itself (23-27 October)
A post-WOMEX programme running through to 2025

The following opportunities are now live on our website:

Creative Commissions - for Greater Manchester artists and collectives to produce new work that examines or challenges the future of the music industry
Global Music Leaders in partnership with British Council - an ambitious leadership programme that will upskill, profile and connect a cohort of emerging industry leaders and change makers from the UK & Ireland with their international peers

In addition, an open call for artists and bands from Greater Manchester to showcase their music at the prestigious opening event of WOMEX 24 at Bridgewater Hall on 23 October is now live on Manchester Music City’s website.

WOMEX 24 will take place in Manchester between 23-27 October with 2,600 of the world’s music industry from 90 different countries expected to attend. The five-day event is being produced by Manchester Music City partner, English Folk Expo. Manchester Central will host the main daytime conference and trade fair, with live music showcases, club nights and films at Albert Hall, Aviva Studios, Manchester Central, O2 Ritz and HOME.

Black Lives In Music and Attitude is Everything have been added to the list of collaborators and will be working closely with us to ensure the programme and wider event is accessible and inclusive.

Download the full press release for more information

Media Contact

Laura Bradley
[email protected]
07966 435026

Partners and supporters

Manchester Music City (MMC) is the local host partner for WOMEX 24.

For WOMEX 24, the key MMC organisations are Manchester City Council, Brighter Sound, English Folk Expo and Marketing Manchester, in partnership with Piranha Arts, Horizons, British Council, Black Lives in Music, Attitude is Everything and Young Manchester.

Supported by Arts Council England, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Manchester Airport Group and Contact.

Find out more about WOMEX 24

Visit Manchester Music City’s website where you can sign up to their mailing list, or follow on Instagram.

“Hosting the biggest conference of the global music scene in Manchester is an incredible opportunity for our city region and the UK & Ireland more broadly. However we know the industry can be a tough place, particularly for those from marginalised and underrepresented groups. Working closely with our amazing partners and with thanks to our supporters, we will work to ensure a broad range of people at different stages of their music career can make the most of this major event coming to the city, and that the legacy of WOMEX 24 is felt for years to come.”

Kate Lowes, Director, Brighter Sound