The ACC Liverpool Group is set to take part in a five-year programme that will catalyse growth and innovation in Liverpool City Region’s music sector.
The Liverpool City Region is announced as a new £6.75 million UKRI Creative Cluster for the Music sector today (Wednesday 27 November). Led by the University of Liverpool with the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, MusicFutures will, over the next five years, establish the Liverpool City Region as a music research and development (R&D) powerhouse and ecosystem.
Informed by industry needs and powered by partnerships, MusicFutures brings together over 20 strategic partners from across the Liverpool City Region—including the ACC Liverpool Group, operators of Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, convention centre and exhibition centre. Working together, this partnership will leverage collective strengths to drive economic sustainability while addressing key challenges in environmental impact and inclusivity across the entire music industry value chain.
By focusing on driving R&D and innovation through emerging technologies as well as talent and business development, MusicFutures will supercharge the Liverpool City Region’s already thriving music sector and future-proof the city’s reputation as a global music city, ensuring its continued cultural and musical relevance on the world stage.
By providing new funding opportunities for both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), bespoke training for music makers, and industry mentorship, MusicFutures will fuel artistic, technological, and IP breakthroughs that will diversify and strengthen the UK’s position at the forefront of the global music industry.
Ultimately, the new music cluster will create clear pathways for musicians, professionals and businesses within the music industry and the wider creative economy – into sectors like gaming, film, and extended reality (XR) – supporting the creation of sustainable, high-paying jobs and business growth.
By addressing regionally identified gaps in talent (skills and training) and management and business development, especially for persistently under-represented communities, it will empower over 1,400 regional music businesses to flourish and create a more fair and inclusive future industry.
Faye Dyer, CEO of The ACC Liverpool Group said “The MusicFutures Creative Cluster represents a ground-breaking moment for Liverpool and the UK music sector. By fostering innovation from grassroots artists to industry pioneers, this project will help transform how music is created, experienced, and celebrated. We are proud to be a key partner, providing a well-connected hub, flexible play spaces, industry insight, and established strong networks from which the MusicFutures team can empower grassroots artists, generate high-quality jobs, and position the region as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive music innovation. From local communities to national and international stages - this is a powerful catalyst for creative and economic growth.”