2 min readOn Wednesday 23 October 2024, the first day of the Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX) officially kicked off at Manchester Central. WOMEX is an international and culturally diverse music meeting and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts. Over 2,500 professionals, including 260 performing artists, come together from 90 countries, making WOMEX the leading networking platform for the world music industry.
It hosts 7 stages, around 700 exhibiting companies, 100+ speakers, films, an opening concert and an award ceremony across five packed networking days, with performances around Manchester in the evening, including venues such as Albert Hall, Aviva Studios and O2 Ritz.
Manchester Central is one of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, situated in the heart of the city. Their vaulted arches and station clock have made the venue an iconic city feature for more than 140 years.
Over the five day event, WOMEX provided over £7.2 million economic impact for the city.
Manchester’s rich history of creative innovation, iconic music scene and passionate community of artists and music enthusiasts made it an ideal host for this milestone 30th edition.
The conference ran for five days and hosted a number of insightful panels that discussed topics from regional and international collaborations to women artists in war, the UK Jazz revival and music in video games.
Speakers from countries like Chile spoke candidly about how specific movements of music are bringing creative sectors to the forefront of economic revolution, as well as discussions about the music sector closer to home.
Afternoons were filled with mentoring and networking opportunities, led by industry professionals from across the globe. Featuring specialised sessions on education, women of the world, labels and management, and much more.
