WOMEX 2024

WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) will celebrate its 30th edition this year as it heads to Manchester in the UK from 23 – 27 October 2024. We’re delighted to be working with WOMEX once again – we have worked with them over many years – providing opportunities to connect music industry professionals from around the world with their counterparts in the UK. 

WOMEX travels to a different European city each year – joining professionals together and showcasing talent – but this is its first WOMEX in the UK for over 10 years.

Here's how we’re involved with WOMEX in Manchester this year.

WOMEX Academy 

We’ve joined forces with WOMEX to support professional music attendees from right across our global networks to join the WOMEX Academy. The WOMEX Academy is WOMEX’s homemade initiative which trains and prepares artists and other music professionals to access international circuits and markets. Before WOMEX kicks off on 23 October, the attendees we’ve invited will take part in workshops and networking events to enable them to forge connections and make the most their time at WOMEX amongst 2,600 of the world’s music industry from 90 different countries. The aim is to help answer those common, music industry questions – how to make substantial first steps on the international circuits, how to work and network at an international level – and to establish long-lasting, professional networks globally.

Here are the people we’ve invited from around the world to join the academy and if you’re at WOMEX this year, come and say hello! Meet: Andrea Ludovic Márquez (Venezuela), Samuel Mulugeta Jufar (Ethiopia), Kwesi Amewuga (Ghana), Hasmik Movsisian (Armenia), Michael Adjin-Tettey (Ghana), Walter Wanyanya (Zimbabwe), Sifiso Gcabashe (South Africa), Muthoni Ndonga (Kenya), Kateryna Yefremova (Ukraine) and Rhoda Mahinda James (Tanzania).

Muthoni – also known as the ‘Drummer Queen’ – is also set to be one of the guest speakers at WOMEX.

Global Music Leaders

Brighter Sound’s WE, THE LEADERS programme is set up for young people, music creators and professionals to discover more about the ever-evolving music industry and made long lasting connections. We’re supporting Global Music Leaders – a key part of the WE, THE LEADERS programme – so that emerging industry leaders and change makers from the UK can connect with their international counterparts.

Before WOMEX starts, Global Music Leaders includes an online residency for those taking part, building on the WOMEXchange programme that we began together years ago with Manchester Music City to connect with promoters, festival organisers and producers to develop deeper understanding of each other’s aims. 

The participants taking part this year are Aisha Fancy (Nigeria), Blossom Maduafokwa (Nigeria), Ben Said Mohamed (Tunisia), Maich de la Maria (Argentina), Krantinaari Ashwini Hiremath (India), Nicole Sarmiento (Spain / Philippines), Kim Pham (Vietnam) and Olha Bekenshtein (Germany / Ukraine).

Horizons 

We’re supporting Horizons, a partnership that celebrates the diverse music that comes from the UK, helping talented artists gain international recognition on the world stage. For 10 years, Horizons’ partners – the Arts Council of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and us here at the British Council – have joined together at WOMEX to ensure grassroots musicians reach wider audiences by providing advice, funding and showcasing opportunities at the event itself. We are committed to diversifying the UK and international attendance at WOMEX, Manchester and being part of the industry’s vital conversations.