Beyond The Education.

1. From 17:30
   INSPIRE Networking

   Brighter & Beyond: Educators Meet The Industry

   The first of a series of relationship-building events between the industry and educators, hosted by INSPIRE and Brighter Sound. Register here.

   Hosted by INSPIRE

1. 10:00
   Introduction

   Beyond The Education: Reasons To Be Cheerful

   Prof Kirsty Fairclough (Innovation Lead, SODA)

   Phill Howley (Head of Programmes, Brighter Sound)

   Dan Tsu (Creative Director, Youth Music)

   Jacob Simmons (Senior Policy Officer for Music at GMCA)

   & more TBC

   A quick-fire introduction to this year's INSPIRE programme, and a chance to find out more about the developments and opportunities that make Greater Manchester such a key place to build a career in music and the wider creative industries.

2. 10:40
   Talk

   Pathways to industry and stories from the journey

   Hosted by Katherine Emer Cantwell (Audience Development, Heavenly Recordings; Mentor, Arts Emergency and Launchpad+)

   Rivca Burns (Head of Music, Factory International)

   Santana Guerout (Artistic Director, Band on the Wall)

   Emily Grayston (Venue Manager, YES)

   Latoya Reisner (Creative Producer & Cultural Strategist)

   The venue eco-system across Greater Manchester is where audiences gather, artists develop and networks are built. Despite the challenges venues of all sizes face, they are still the key places to start building a career, from underground spaces to stadium venues, across a wide variety of job roles.

   The talk brings together Greater Manchester-based women developing their careers across the city’s key venues, sharing their experiences, how they got started, and what advice they have for the INSPIRE audience.

3. 12:00
   Presentation

   Maximising The Promotion Power Of YouTube

   By Corbyn Asbury (Label Relations Manager, YouTube UK)

   Corbyn joined YouTube at the start of 2018 to help with the launch of YouTube Music, and since has worked on large scale campaigns with superstar artists including Little Mix, The 1975, Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi, and Olivia Dean, as well as leading on YouTube's emerging artist programs including Artist on the Rise and YouTube Foundry.

   Corbyn has driven YouTube's industry partnerships with The BRIT Awards, Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, Eurovision and more.

   From

4. 13:30
   Interview

   The Live Conversation

   Beth Farrer (Senior Venue Manager, Co-op Live)

   Interviewed by Hannah Eakins (CEO, Production Futures)

   Beth’s career trajectory demonstrates exceptional drive, adaptability, and leadership within the live music sector. Joining Co-op Live in July 2024, she has been instrumental in the venue's substantial and ongoing growth.

   Her rise through Manchester’s iconic venues, from bartender at the Albert Hall to Trainee Assistant Manager, then Deputy and General Manager at New Century, showcases a combination of operational expertise, resilience, and consistent delivery under pressure.

   At Co-op Live, her skill in managing complex events and building strong relationships with artists, touring teams, and colleagues led to her promotion to Senior Venue Manager in just a year and a half.

   With

5. From 14:00
   Live Broadcast

   Unity Radio live broadcast from the DevLab

   Unity Radio is a person of global majority led independent multi-platform influencing its target audience of 15-40 yrs underpinned with creative Hip Hop activities to improve well-being amongst young people broadcasting across the Manchester region on 92.8 FM, DAB, and around the world via www.unityradio.fm and smartphones.

   Unity Radio has been broadcast on FM since 2010 and has a history of reaching into communities with engaging outreach work, helping young people in the community and creating a solid foundation of local support across the region. Unity Radio’s unique and innovative programming broadcasting a range of local, national and international dance and urban music artists reflects its audience’s tastes, interests and popular trends.

   Follow and find more via
   www.instagram.com/unityradio.fm
   www.tiktok.com/unityradio.fm

   With

6. 15:00
   Talk

   There’s no one job: side hustles, portfolio careers and building your creative networks

   Hosted by Katherine Emer Cantwell (Audience Development, Heavenly Recordings; Mentor, Arts Emergency and Launchpad+)

   Paula K (Social Media Manager & Content Creator)

   Shell Zenner (Presenter / Curator, Amazing Radio)

   Lisa Durrant (Founder and Copywriter, Just The Type)

   Keira Knox (Founder & Editor, Heard It Here First)

   There are very few full-time roles in the creative industries, especially starting out — but through side hustle culture, diversifying your skills and building your networks and experience, you can build a career that’s varied, exciting and sustainable. Hear what you can do to maximise your opportunities, deal with the challenges of resilience and maintaining your energy and passion, and keep creating career opportunities as you learn and grow.

   With

Plus: INSPIRE attendees can check out the Beyond The Music Trade Fair, bringing together exhibitors from music, tech and innovation at Media City Studios.

1. 10:00
   Introduction

   Day one debrief, day two introduction

   An introduction to the day's INSPIRE activities, including tasks for the audience, plus updates from the wider conference and festival.

2. 10:15
   Talk

   Show Me The Money: funding your creativity

   Adrian Cooke (Relationship Manager, Music, Arts Council England)

   Dan Jones (PRS / PRS Foundation)

   Ife Okonkwo (Youth Music)

   Louis Strappazzon (UBI Network)

   Joey Greener (The Public Eye)

   Greater Manchester has been building the infrastructure, organisations and places to make the region a key destination for a wide variety of creative industries — but what’s needed most is the people. Whether as entrepreneur, creative, promoter, business developer or one of a new wave of start-up ideas, this talk brings together key organisations who can talk about how to access funding and support to build your place in the music and wider creative industries.

3. 11:00
   Workshop

   NOTION x INSPIRE Creative Review

   A practical, quickfire feedback session with the NOTION team for emerging artists and creatives. Bring something you’re currently working on — a press pitch, artist bio, campaign idea, piece of writing, photography, social content or music-related creative — and get direct feedback on how to sharpen it, position it and make it more effective. Find NOTION on Instagram.

   With

4. 11:30
   Talk

   Future Of Independent Venues

   Hosted by Louis Burnay (Co-operatives UK)

   Katie Matthews (Gut Level)

   Rebecca Shaw (The White Hotel)

   Mitali Mookerjee (MAP)

   Evan Woodall (Carlton Club)

   How do a group of people come together to buy a music venue? What does a grassroots music venue look like in 2026? How can you do the same?

   From community ownership and multi-use spaces to challenging traditional ideas of what a music venue can be, the panel will look at the past, present and future of grassroots music spaces. Expect practical insight into how these spaces are built, owned and sustained, and how you, as the next generation, can help nurture, shape and own the future spaces of grassroots music.

   With

5. 13:00
   Talk

   The Artist Talk

   OneDa

   Roukaya B

   Trxxy

   Hosted by DJ Roesh (BBC Introducing)

   With

6. 14:00
   Session

   Industry Connect Roundtables

   This session brings together the organisations that can support you with the skills, training and opportunities to build your career in Greater Manchester and beyond — a chance to talk one-to-one about what’s out there for you, on your doorstep, and expand your industry knowledge.

   With

7. 13:00 to 16:00
   Workshop in the DevLab

   Reform Radio DJ workshops & drop-in session

   Reform Radio will be on-site at INSPIRE to deliver an accessible DJ workshop, plus talk about the training and broadcast opportunities attendees can access. Pop by, play some music and find out more about how Reform Radio can support your creative career.

   With

Plus: INSPIRE attendees can check out the Beyond The Music Trade Fair, bringing together exhibitors from music, tech and innovation at Media City Studios.