Beyond The Music 2026: 10 Essential Panels & Performances to Watch
The event will be held at MediaCity U.K. in Salford, Greater Manchester. The venue's CEO speaks on the pick of the program.
Beyond The Music 2026 will take place in Greater Manchester from October 6-9, featuring a wide range of conferences, performances, and keynote speeches from influential figures in the U.K. music industry. The event, hosted by MediaCity U.K. in Salford, will bring together representatives from major record labels, music organizations, and industry leaders.
Jo Charrington, president of Capitol Records U.K.; Stacey Tang, co-president of RCA Records U.K.; Yungblud's manager Tommas Arnby; and Northern Quarter CEO Michael Adex are among the keynote speakers. The BPI, U.K Music, The Ivors Academy, and other organizations will also participate in the annual event.
In addition to the conference, Billboard U.K. will launch its inaugural 40 Under 40 list and host an honors event on Wednesday, October 7, with a welcome address by Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig. The conference's final day will feature an AI-focused summit, led by former Manchester Mayor and current U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
MediaCity U.K. CEO Alice Webb has identified several standout performances and panels for the conference. These include "Another Country $$$$," an audio/visual show that will showcase creativity; "SpaceAcre," a discussion on art as a fundamental human right; and "The Convergence of Music and Video Games," a session exploring the intersection of these two industries. Webb also highlighted Tom A. Smith and Seb Lowe's keynote, "Finding Your Way Through," which aims to demystify the music industry for emerging artists.
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