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Wednesday at the Great Escape conference

By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 10 May 2023

Today’s CMU+TGE focus is music and education. Connecting music educators with the music industry – and informed by the work of CMU’s Pathways Into Music Foundation – we are considering how to empower and support future music talent, including frontline artists and portfolio musicians, as well as those who aspire to work within the music industry.

As this Daily lands, we are in the middle of discussions about the new National Plan For Music Education for England published by the UK government last June. What does that plan say about supporting young people who aspire to work in the music industry, on or off the stage, and how can that be achieved. We’ve also selected some key elements of the plan as jumping off points, sparking conversations throughout the rest of the day.

At 11.45am we will be considering the impact of new technologies on music education, before putting the spotlight on online learning, and the platforms, channels, content and mentors many people now rely on when educating themselves about music-making and the music industry. How does that work – and how does that complement more traditional music education. We’ll be getting expert insights from Amber Horsburgh, Atlanta Cobb and Rosanna Connolly.

Either side of lunchtime we have today’s keynote conversations.

First, at 12.45pm, musician, broadcaster, Chair of BPI and Chair of Youth Music YolanDa Brown will discuss her career as a music-maker, and her ground-breaking work encouraging, educating and supporting the next generation of music talent.

Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter, producer and recently re-elected President of the PRS Members’ Council Michelle Escoffery will also discuss her career in music and her creator advocacy role at PRS For Music, as well as what early-career music-makers actually need to focus on to pursue a successful career in the industry.

Then at 2.00pm, you will be able to find out more about Elevate, the professional development programme for early-career music business executives and entrepreneurs, and aspiring music-makers, presented by The Great Escape and CMU, and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

This afternoon we will be navigating the various different career paths in music; we’ll be asking what skills are required to succeed in the music business; and we’ll look at the evolution of music business education.

Along the way we’ll hear from the likes of Jamal Guthrie from Route, Jill Hollywood from Echo Beach Management, Sarah Henderson from MCPR, William Bowerman from WFB Live, Charlene Hegarty from the Oh Yeah Music Centre, Emily Akanimoh from Hospital Records, Erika Thomas from WMA, Sandra Bhatia from OneFest CIC, Jen Anderson from Point Blank Music School & Apex Music International, Lucy Squire from University Of South Wales, Mathew Flynn from University Of Liverpool and Nick Stillwell from SupaJam.

Then we will end the day by asking three music-makers “what is the one thing you wish you’d known at the start of your career?” – and “what have you learnt more recently that has really changed your game?” Discussing their lightbulb moments will be David Ford, Eve Horne and Jack Looker.

All of this happens in Conference 1 at the Leonardo Royal Waterfront hotel. And once the first day of CMU+TGE Sessions is done, we’ll all head to the TGE Beach Site for the official Great Escape Welcome Party, presented by BPI.