A new Welsh music industry conference that will focus on supporting young people at the beginning of their careers will take place online next week. ‘Summit’ will take place from 9 to 11 April and has been programmed as a response to the projected reopening of the music industry in Wales in the coming months.

The event has been programmed by a group of young curators – aged 16 to 25 – as part of a Welsh music project called ‘Beacons’. The aim is to create opportunities for those interested in connecting with the industry and working within it.

‘It’s been a rubbish year for the music industry, and especially for young people like me who want to start their careers but have had to put it on pause,’ said Alexandra Jones, one of the organisers of Summit. ‘We’re hoping that Summit will help people to feel hopeful for their future in music.’

The weekend-long online event will feature a programme of educational sessions surrounding the music industry in addition to highlighting the stories and career-paths of Welsh-based musicians and industry professionals. There will be three strands: a DIY series featuring bullet-point videos of tips and quick insights into the industry; a series of ‘How-to’ guides that delve deeper into the sector and provide first-hand accounts from industry professionals; and a wellbeing and personal development strand that is devoted to the promotion of mental wellbeing for young people. 

Speakers include songwriter Hannah Berney who performs as Violet Skies; Sophie Williams, journalist with NME and the Guardian; Gruff Wyn Owen, head of Libertino Records; mental health practitioner Gwen Goddard; TikTok content creator Ellis Lloyd Jones, and more. 

Spike Griffiths, Youth Development Officer at Beacons, said:

We’re not sure how things will be when the music industry returns, but with so many young people keen to get into the industry, this is the perfect time to connect them with experts who can help them to kick start their careers.

Tickets are free and can be booked on the Summit website. 

For more, visit: www.beacons.cymru