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Manchester winds down United We Stream to ‘rebuild’

After raising nearly £400,000 for out-of-work creatives, the UK version of United We Stream will be reconfigured to benefit Manchester’s night-time businesses

By IQ on 01 Jun 2020

Mel C played a special set to mark the anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing

Mel C played a special set to mark the anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing


Manchester’s United We Stream online concert platform will be wound down from 7 June in order for the city focus its efforts on rebuilding its night-time economy, co-creator Sacha Lord has announced.

United We Stream UK launched on 3 April, taking inspiration from the original initiative in Berlin. In the weeks since, it has raised more than £380,000 for those unable to work during the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching 14 million people who tuned in to see live performances by the likes of Melanie C, Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez, as well as DJ events such as two 12-hour ‘Hacienda House Parties’, which reached a combined 3.5m people.

The Warehouse Project/Parklife Festival’s Lord, who is also Greater Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, says the weekly shows will now give way to one-off events featuring emerging Manchester talent. Funding will also be redirected towards the city’s night-time businesses.

“When United We Stream was launched, we weren’t sure anyone would watch it, let alone donate,” he says. Yet the public has helped raise over £382,000 in just under two months, and for that I, and all the businesses who will benefit from these funds, are eternally grateful.

“To see our community come together to support these businesses is humbling”

“The night-time economy is one of the biggest sectors for employment in Greater Manchester and has been hit hardest by the pandemic. To see our community come together to support these businesses is humbling and demonstrates the unmatched community spirit of our city-region.”

In addition to voluntary donations, United We Stream initiative received corporate financial support from Live Nation, OVG, Parlophone Records, Twitter and more.

“The platform will now echo this spirit of togetherness and go on to provide a free space for disadvantaged musicians and artists across Greater Manchester,” continues Lord.

“I’m sure that by providing a platform for unsigned talent that we will go on to discover more of the household names that our region is so famous for.”

 


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