MusicFutures

🌍 MusicFutures at Liverpool Welcomes Europe: Powering The Next Creative Economy

We were honoured to be part of the Liverpool Welcomes Europe programme earlier today, hosting a stakeholder & industry session at Liverpool Experience Campus as part of this landmark international gathering in Liverpool.

🤝 Bringing together investors, industry leaders and our music industry partners, to network and discuss how music and creative technologies are reshaping the wider creative industries, alongside opportunities and challenges around cross-border collaboration and investment.

It was a valuable opportunity to highlight 's growing role in European creative and innovation networks, and to explore how we can move from civic ambition to investable, scalable opportunity.

A big thank you to our partners across the Arts and Humanities Research Council - AHRC, , University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and to Liverpool City Council for convening such an important programme for international collaboration.

👉 Learn More: https://musicfutures.co.uk/europe-comes-to-liverpool-leaders-gather-for-liverpool-welcomes-europe/

🚀 MusicFutures is proud to be partnering with the newly launched BLK SCL!

A bold new multi-strand intervention designed to scale up Black music talent, infrastructure and ownership across the North of England and the UK’s devolved nations.

➡️ Founded by Yaw Owusu, BLK SCL! is built as a practical answer to persistent structural barriers, creating long-term pathways, connected networks, and an engine that supports growth without compromising cultural integrity.

The UK is home to incredible Black music talent, but the infrastructure, investment, and network opportunities required for sustainable growth often remain inaccessible.

💫That’s why we're proud to support BLK SCL! - MusicFutures is supporting BLK SCL!’s growth through part-funding the BLK SCL! Summit and enabling a paid role, a part-time Programme Coordinator within the BLK SCL! ecosystem.

This is about building a stronger, more equitable music ecosystem - one where Black British music talent can thrive, lead, and open pathways to meaningful opportunities in the UK music industry.

👉 Learn more at https://musicfutures.co.uk/blk-scl-black-scale-launches-to-build-long-term-pathways-for-black-music-talent-across-the-north-and-the-uks-devolved-nations/

EMI North

The is getting ready for Africa Oyé (Official)! 🎶🌍

With just a couple of weeks to go until this incredible festival returns, we want to show our support for everyone who helps make it possible.

Africa Oyé continues to bring people together through a vibrant celebration of African and Caribbean music, culture, creativity, and community. Events like this play an important role in showcasing diverse talent, strengthening community connections, and celebrating the rich cultural heritage that makes Liverpool such a dynamic and welcoming city.

A huge thank you to the organisers, performers, volunteers, and partners working hard behind the scenes as preparations continue for another fantastic weekend.

The MusicFutures team is looking forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate all that Africa Oyé has to offer.

📍 Sefton Park, L17
🗓 20th & 21st June 2026
🎟️ Tickets available: https://africaoye.com/tickets/

📣 MA Scholarship in Immersive Media: Music, Immersive Technology & Creative Innovation

In partnership with Liverpool John Moores University – we are offering tuition fee support to explore the future of music, digital culture and immersive experience.

The MA Immersive Media programme encourages experimentation across immersive storytelling, XR, sound, digital interaction, AI, spatial media, and creative technologies.

✨ Project ideas might include:
• Immersive or interactive music experiences
• VR/AR performance environments
• Spatial audio and sound design
• AI and music creativity
• Immersive storytelling and digital culture
• Music-focused gaming or interactive media
• Accessible and inclusive immersive experiences
• Sustainable approaches to digital and creative practice

✨ Scholarship benefits:
➡️ Tuition fees covered for one UK/Home student

📝 Deadline: 30th June 2026
⏰ Start: September 2026
🔗 Learn More & Apply: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/ma-scholarship-immersive-media-music-immersive-technology-creative-innovation/

🎤 We're excited to share that MusicFutures team member Andrew Lansley has been invited to speak at by:Larm - Norway's largest music conference.

🌍 Andrew's session - When the Summer Breeze Becomes a Sh*tshow (yes, that's the sessions name!) - will explore how the music sector can adapt to and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, an increasingly important issue as climate change continues to affect festivals, venues, artists, and audiences around the world.

We're proud to see MusicFutures represented on an international stage and credited as part of this important work. We look forward to following the conversation in Oslo.

📍 Oslo, Norway
📅 10th-12th September 2026
👉 Read more about the session here: https://bylarm.no/lineup/when-the-summerbreeze-becomes-a-sh*tshow

🚀 MusicFutures PhD Studentship Opportunities

Passionate about music, culture, and the future of live experiences? Explore some of the most exciting questions shaping the music industry today - from AI and performers’ rights, to immersive media, live music innovation, and managerial challenges in the sector.

🎭 Reimagining Music Venues: Spatial, Digital & Experiential Innovation in Live Music
🏛 Liverpool School of Architecture | School of the Arts, University of Liverpool
🗓 Deadline: 10th July
👉 Learn More: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/phd-studentship-university-of-liverpool-department-of-architecture/

🌐 Immersive Media, Digital Culture, and Future Music Experiences
🏛 Liverpool John Moores University
🗓 Deadline: 17th July
👉 Learn More: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/phd-studentship-liverpool-john-moores-university-liverpool-school-of-art-and-creative-industries/

🤖 Performers’ Rights, Personality, and AI
🏛 School of Law ad Social Justice, University of Liverpool
🗓 Deadline: 22nd June
👉 Learn More: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/phd-scholarship-university-of-liverpool-school-of-law-social-justice/

📈 Finding Solutions to the Most Pressing Managerial Challenges Impacting the Music Sector
🏛 University of Liverpool Management School
🗓 Deadline: 5th June
👉 Learn More: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/phd-studentship-university-of-liverpool-management-school/

💬 We’d love to hear from you, tag someone who would be interested - or someone already thinking about the future of music, AI, and digital culture.

⏪Q&A RECAP: Music Innovation Call

👀 SMEs & CICs - thinking about applying for up to £20,000 through the MusicFutures Music Innovation Call? We’ve got you covered.

Some highlighted questions and answers from yesterday’s information webinar are below, offering useful guidance to help strengthen your application.

For the full insights and answers shared, simply check the Webinar Recap section on our website to access the playback.

💾 You can also download the webinar slides and Q&A transcript from the right-hand side of the funding call page.

👉 Explore the full Q&A here: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/music-innovation-fund/