Leicester Forms Board to Advance City’s Music Industry

A new board has been established in Leicester with the aim of promoting the city’s music scene and elevating the national profile of its creative sector. This entity, known as the Leicester Music Board (LMB), is being introduced as part of initiatives designed to position Leicester as one of the United Kingdom’s leading music cities. Leicester City Council is providing support for the board, which intends to build upon the achievements of the inaugural Leicester Music Conference held in February. That event saw participation from over 300 delegates and involved 30 music organisations. One of the LMB’s initial responsibilities will be the organization of the Leicester Music Conference and Festival 2025, which is being expanded to a two-day event. A Young People’s Music Careers Conference is scheduled for the first day, 27 February, with the Leicester Music Conference for industry professionals taking place the following day. The 2Funky music venue on New Park Street will host the event, which is set to include live performances and workshops. Yasin El Ashrafi, who founded the Leicester Music Conference, stated: “I’m genuinely excited about our ambitions for the city. With a powerful blend of expertise across music, education and community, we have an incredible foundation to build upon. Together, we’re working to elevate Leicester’s music scene, ensuring it remains vibrant, inclusive, and impactful for generations to come.” The board also indicated an objective to develop improved pathways into industry careers and to ensure that opportunities are available within the city, thereby preventing the “exodus of talent.” Sarah Barton-Wales, head of Leicestershire Music, commented that the board, which aims to strengthen grassroots support for the city’s music community, is “leading the way to bridge the gap between music education and the music industry.” She added: “The board will place industry and education side by side to make sure that young people are supported into a career much better and equipped with the skills to build their careers in the way that they want to.” Representatives from HQ CAN, 2Funky Arts, Leicester City Council, TiME – Technology in Music Education UK, National Youth Jazz Collective, Leicestershire Music, UMC Management, PPL PRS, and DMU comprise the board’s membership.