Some of Europe’s leading music tech companies are joining forces in a bid to tackle the coronavirus’s devastating effect on the live music industry.

#NextStageChallenge – a collaborative effort between Music Innovation Hub (Italy), Music Norway, Music Tech Germany, Music Ally (UK), Sacem (France), Sound Diplomacy (UK), STHLM Music City (Sweden), Technoport (Luxembourg), Teosto (Finland), TheLynk (France) and Wallifornia Music Tech (Belgium) – aims to “explore exciting new ways to futureproof the industry” through a hackathon, accelerator programme and conference.

Beginning with an open call for submissions (deadline 24 April), #NextStageChallenge will begin on 27 April and last two weeks, with participants focusing on solutions in three areas: Access (creation, production, broadcasting, curation), fan engagement (audience, user experience, immersive technologies) and value (monetisation, monitoring, rights management).

The best submissions from each category will then be chosen to join an accelerator programme, followed by a conference to showcase their solutions to the wider industry.

Yvan Boudillet, founder of TheLynk, says: “We are calling on Europe’s best start-ups, developers, designers, researchers, music professionals and creators to transform the live music experience for good. We hope these trying times will lead to the most creative and sustainable digital solutions.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The UK’s Music Managers Forum (MMF) and YouTube have unveiled the 20 music managers that will benefit from the 2020 Accelerator programme, a funding and educational initiative for upcoming music managers.

This year’s participants – the second wave of managers to take part in the programme – represent a diverse range of 66 artists, songwriters and producers, and include managers of acts shortlisted for the Brit Awards Rising Star award, the BBC Sound of 2020 and the Mercury Prize.

Over half the group are based outside of London, with women making up 40% of the participants and 50% coming from BAME backgrounds. Only three currently operate as full time music managers, with the majority balancing this role with other freelance, consultative or short term employment.

Developed by MMF and supported by YouTube Music, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), 24 managers across England and Scotland took part in the inaugural Accelerator programme in 2019, receiving year-long grants of up to £15,000 and more than 80 hours of manager-specific education courses.

Over the 12 months the managers participated in the programme, the number of artists they represent went up by over 20% on average.

“The goal of Accelerator is to help these individuals grow their business, build their network and develop their skillsbase”

“I am delighted to welcome another 20 managers onto the Accelerator Programme,” comments programme manager Paul Bonham. “The quality of applications was, yet again, ridiculously strong, but after a tough and competitive selection process we have another seriously high calibre group onboard. It’s especially pleasing to have more female managers involved, more managers from BAME backgrounds and more managers from outside of London.

“The goal of Accelerator is to help these individuals grow their business, build their network and develop their skillsbase.”

“YouTube Music is proud to be continuing our partnership with the Music Managers Forum on the Accelerator Programme, which has proven to be a game-changer in providing emerging managers the opportunity to hone their skills and focus on their business,” says YouTube Music artist partnerships manager Roz Mansfield.

“We were over the moon to see so many success stories coming out of the last 12 months of the programme and cannot wait to see what the new class of 2020 will go on to achieve.”

A full list of 2020 Accelerator participants can be found here.

Photo: Accelerator 2020 participants, plus Annabella Coldrick (MMF CEO), Azi Eftekhari (Head of Label Relations (EMEA), YouTube), Paul Bonham (Accelerator Programme Manager MMF), Jayne Stynes (GM MMF) and Gemma Cropper (Manager, EMEA Music Partnerships, Google).

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

The Music Managers Forum (MMF) and YouTube Music have announced that the Accelerator Programme for Music Managers will return in 2020, following a successful inaugural year.

The initiative, lauded as the first-ever independent funding and professional development programme designed solely for music managers, aims to increase the number of sustainable full-time management businesses, offering a combination of financial and educational support.

The programme currently benefits 24 managers across England and Scotland, who have received year-long grants of up to £15,000 and more than 80 hours of manager-specific education courses, through backing from Arts Council England and the Scottish Music Industry Association.

Applications for those wishing to participate in the 2020 programme open on Tuesday 15 October.

“MMF are absolutely thrilled that YouTube Music recognise the importance of Accelerator and that the programme will return next year,” says MMF’s strategy and operations director Fiona McGugan.

“Accelerator has already offered a career-changing experience for 24 upcoming music managers”

“It has already offered a career-changing experience for 24 upcoming music managers, and we look forward to sharing some of the impact data and successes in time for the opening of 2020 applications.”

Roz Mansfield, YouTube Music artist partnerships managers, comments: “As well as supporting the next wave of British talent, we also want to support the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the industry function, grow and succeed.

“We at YouTube Music are so proud to be a sponsor of MMF and their Accelerator Programme and look forward to seeing what these talented managers go on to do next.”

Accelerator business partners include Music Ally, CMU Insights, Harbottle & Lewis, Sheridans, Simkins, Simons Muirhead & Burton, Music Insurance Brokers and SRLV. MMF aims to confirm and expand partnerships for 2020 before the programme begins.

Full details on how to apply to the programme will become available here.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.

Music Managers Forum and YouTube Music have announced the 24 beneficiaries of the Accelerator Programme for Music Managers (APMM). Under the programme, the chosen managers will receive funding to develop their businesses, as well as tailored training and expert mentoring.

APMM, lauded the first-ever independent funding and professional development initiative designed solely for music managers, launched in October last year.

The programme aims to aid the development of upcoming music management businesses, awarding grants of up to £15,000 and offering high quality educational support, delivered in partnership with CMU Insights and Music Ally. The programme receives additional backing from the Arts Council England (ACE) and the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA).

The 24 successful applicants represent a diverse range of talent across the genres of grime, metal, reggae, pop, drum’n’bass and jazz. The list of beneficiaries includes managers for Mammút, Poppy Ajudha, Voyager and Brookes Brothers.

“Managers are the lifeblood of the music business, our industry will continue to thrive if they have the support to continue focusing on their businesses”

“Accelerator is the first scheme I have seen that is dedicated to supporting music managers as they develop their careers within the industry,” says Rachel Miller of Rachel Miller Management, one of the programme’s beneficiaries.

“The mentorship, training and opportunity to establish a network of peers is going to be invaluable to furthering my management skills and expanding the success of my artists and company.”

Experienced manager and music specialist Paul Bonham will manage the initiative, taking a year-long secondment from his current position as relationship manager, diversity and culture at ACE.

“Managers are the lifeblood of the music business, and our industry will continue to thrive if they have the support to continue focusing on their businesses,” says Azi Eftekhari, Head of YouTube Music Partnerships, UK and Ireland.

“These 24 individuals represent some of the most exciting next wave of management industry, and we look forward to seeing how they use these funds to improve and evolve their business here in the UK.”

The full list of programme beneficiaries can be found here.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.