I had mixed feelings about the true benefits of Eurovision for the Liverpool music sector BUT I was super keen to contribute to any of the work done that would utilise that light and energy to highlight major issues of importance and urgency for Liverpool and other music cities.
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Therefore when the opportunity to programme design a conference that would look at music cities, their role and powers within a very fast moving and developing technological and global culture, I was very keen. My take on this would be delved a little wider than most of the other music cities conferences that have happened around the world, as well as ensure there was a level of bringing together a variety of people, from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. This led to the creation of the Modern Music Cities: A Eurovision Legacy Conference.
Modern Music Cities: A Eurovision Legacy Conference will bring together local, national and international thought-leaders, alongside music creatives, policy makers and shakers, and industry and cultural leaders to discuss the power and purpose of music cities. Speakers include Seth Godin (Award-winning author and thought-leader), Shain Shapiro (Sound Diplomacy), Carolyn Cooper (Jamaican author, essayist and literary scholar), Nelson George (American music and culture critic, journalist and filmmaker), Scott Lewis (Label Manager for EMI North), Ammo Talwar (UK Music Diversity Task Force Group Chair), Sandra Wall (Trade and Industry Developer for the Creative Sector in Norrköping Kommun), Ben Homewood (Features Editor at Music Week), Bryan Johnson (Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships, International at Spotify), Kevin McManus (Head of Unesco City of Music- Liverpool), Dr Matt Brennan (Reader in Popular Music, Glasgow University), Nur Ozdamar (Lead, Artist & Label Development EMEA, YouTube & Google), Dave Monks (BBC Music Introducing) and many more.
The conference takes place in Liverpool, a UNESCO City of Music, on Friday 14 July at the iconic Spaces At The Spine.
By Yaw Owusu