Major New Programme Launched to Transform Tees Music Industry

Musicians, promoters and venues across Tees Valley are to benefit from a major new multi-million-pound project to develop a thriving and sustainable local music scene.

Sonic Futures is a new TVCA-funded programme which will develop new local talent, support the area’s live music venues and recording studios and build its profile as a centre for music creativity.

Delivering more than £2million of investment to key areas, this new partnership led by North East music industry specialists, Generator, and Tees Music Alliance, will set the next generation of talent up for success.

The exciting launch of Sonic Futures was celebrated at the Georgian Theatre, in Stockton, on Friday (September 6).

Those in attendance included Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, and big industry names including Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation, Austin Daboh, Executive Vice President of Atlantic Records UK, Yaw Owusu, an experienced Creative Consultant who has worked on major music projects, and Nina Radojewski, the Head of Membership at the Association of Independent Music.

Sonic Futures will include ring-fenced funding for Tees Valley-based bands and artists to boost their careers alongside support for music education and plans to grow the region’s festival scene.

Its aim is to boost the Tees Valley economy by £6million and create 120 jobs over the next three years, while increasing ticket sales and growing visitor numbers.

Award-winning Middlesbrough artist Amelia Coburn, who is receiving support under the separate TVCA-funded Artists of the Year programme, performed at Friday’s launch event.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “From artists to concert promoters and venue owners, we have fantastic people working across our local music industry but it’s essential we provide the right support to nurture and grow this talent.

“We have huge potential and Sonic Futures will support our ambition to develop Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as a place that is renowned for its great live music scene, great labels and recording studios and somewhere that musicians and music professionals can build lasting careers.”

Sonic Futures will also see the establishment of an industry-led Tees Valley Music Board responsible for delivering on key objectives.

It will include partnerships with PRS Foundation, Warner Music UK, PPL and many other leading organisations across the sector.

And it will work to develop local music production infrastructure through support for record labels, production facilities and greater links with the growing TV, film and gaming sectors across Tees Valley.

Generator’s CEO Mick Ross said: “Expanding our work in the Tees Valley is not only a logical step to transform the music industry infrastructure there but a pan regional approach to reach the next generation of talent.

“The Northern music scene is thriving, and partnerships like this ensure this continued success. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Tees Music Alliance on this new project.”

North-East based Generator holds new partnerships with both Universal and Warner Music – which also provides a unique opportunity over other northern regions.

Recent studies of the Tees Valley music industry show it has a current value of £20m per year – and industry experts believe it has the potential to more than double in value to £44m per year and spawn hundreds more jobs.

Paul Burns, from the Tees Music Alliance, added: “It’s fantastic for TMA to be part of such a comprehensive programme of skills development and capacity building, at an unprecedented level of investment for our sector.

“We’re looking forward to getting our sleeves rolled up and getting to work on helping our local music industry to develop and thrive.”