Greater Manchester Music Commission

In 2019, UK Music and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) published the Greater Manchester Music Review which included ten recommendations on how the city region could support and develop music in Greater Manchester. One of the recommendations was the formation of a Greater Manchester Music Commission.

Following the re-election of Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2021, GMCA established the Commission, which meets four times a year. Andy Burnham is the political lead for the Greater Manchester Music Commission, with support from co-chairs.

The role of the Greater Manchester Music Commission is to support and promote music in Greater Manchester. Commissioners are asked to:

Identify opportunities to develop talent and audiences within the Greater Manchester music ecology, as well as its prominence, reputation, and success both nationally and internationally

Identify areas requiring intervention

Prioritise these opportunities and challenges within the context of the local financial/political/health landscape

Develop specific actions, interventions and programmes to present to GMCA

Provide oversight of StreamGM, the not-for-profit ethical streaming service designed to provide a global platform for GM talent

Investigate ways to promote music from Greater Manchester around the world, including investigation of the feasibility of a globally-significant music industry event in Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Music Commission will report to the GMCA Culture and Heritage Steering Group which reports to GMCA, with representation from the steering group on the commission.

“Manchester has always been the beating heart of UK music. Our history is full of pioneers who did things differently, and who were often imitated but never bettered – but we’ve never been content to stand still and revel in the glories of the past. The job of the commissioners will be to represent the Greater Manchester music scene as it is now, championing creators and communities at every level. They will look at new ways of promoting music and developing new talent, and work with us to turn those ideas into action.”
– Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham