Music Managers’ Forum rocks into town

MANCHESTER is to play host to a key music sector event for the first time.

The Manchester office of law firm Shoosmiths  and the Music Managers Forum (MMF), have teamed up to host a music industry finance event in the city.

The event, which takes place on September 25 at Shoosmiths’ Spinnigfields offices, will examine the various funding options open to musicians, managers and independent labels. This is the first time the event has been held outside London.

The event will feature speakers from the PRS Foundation, Creative United and the Music Export Growth Scheme who will be provide information relating to funds which they operate and how to access them.

There is a panel session chaired by Shoosmiths’ music lawyer, Carol Isherwood, which will feature several independent labels, a DJ and musical entrepreneur.

The panel will focus on other forms of funding including brand sponsorship and consider case studies. The event will close with a Music Managers Forum open meeting where attendees can find out more about MMF membership.

Laura Harper, who leads Shoosmiths’ intellectual property (IP) & creative industries’ team, said: “We’re proud to be hosting this event here in Manchester. As one of the leading music law practices in the region, we know it’s important to support our clients and the industry and help with key issues such as funding.

“Many of our music business clients and artists are based in the North West so it is great to be able to stage an event here in Manchester for the first time.”

The MMF is the leading representative body for UK-based music artist managers.

Its membership stands at over 400 managers, representing in total over 1,000 artists including Arctic Monkeys, David Gilmour, Elton John,  Tinie Tempah, Mumford & Sons, Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Radiohead and Tom Jones.