The MU will be speaking on panels hosted by The Council of Music Makers (CMM), and co-hosting an advice workshop on US visa policies and procedures. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The Great Escape Festival, which celebrates new music, takes place 13-16 May in Brighton. Also running alongside the main event is The Great Escape Conference, featuring panels, keynote speakers, industry insights and more.
The MU will be attending the conference on Thursday 14 May to speak as part of panel discussions on key industry topics and host a workshop for musicians interested in performing in the US.
Conference-only delegate passes are available to purchase separately, as well as in addition to festival tickets.
AI, streaming, media and touring
Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary, will speak on panel ‘AI, Streaming, Media and Touring: The Music-Maker Perspective on Key Industry Trends’, hosted by the Council of Music Makers (CMM).
The session takes place on Thursday 14 May from 10:45 - 11:45am, and will explore how changes and issues in the broadcast media landscape – including deals with music AI companies, the economics of streaming, and streaming fraud and AI slop – are impacting musicians and composers, as well as important developments around touring and ticketing.
Building safer music communities
MU Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, John Shortell, will also be speaking on a panel ‘From Awareness to Action: Building Safer Music Communities’, hosted by the CMM and the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA).
Taking place on Thursday 14 May from 12:15 - 13:00pm, the panel will look at how organisations are putting the CIISA Standards – a framework setting out the minimum standards of behaviour expected across the creative industries to ensure safe and inclusive working environments – into practice within their own networks.
From accountability frameworks to grassroots cultural shifts, the discussion will highlight both successes and what still needs to be done to build safer, more inclusive music communities.
US visas policies and procedures
The MU is also partnering with Tamizdat, a nonprofit organisation facilitating international artist mobility and cultural exchange, to host an informal workshop on US visa policies and procedures. Musicians wanting to perform in the US will be guided on the visa application process, timeframes and the different types of visas needed.
The session will take place on Thursday 14 May from 2-4pm, at WaterBear Education HQ.
Venue: WaterBearEducation HQ, Hanover House, 118 Queens Road, Brighton and Hove BN1 3XG.
If you’d like to attend and/or have any accessibility requirements, please RSVP by emailing MU East and South East England Regional Officer Tom Eagle at tom.eagle@theMU.org.