Announcement: New Music Board Members Revealed

Liverpool City Region Music Board is thrilled to reveal the names of its newest members; all experts and influential figures from the world of music.

The eight new recruits are:

• Les Spaine, CEO of Spaine Music Company
• Jennifer Johnston, Mezzo soprano
• Andy Dockerty, Managing Director of Adlib events technology suppliers
• Saad Shaffi, Managing Director of 24 Kitchen Street
• Louise Nulty, Project Manager of The Studio in Widnes
• Nina Kehagia, Radio Broadcaster and Music Industry Lecturer
• Yousef, International DJ and founder of Circus Music
• Mike Walsh, Music Consultant and Artist Manager.

When recruiting, the Board was keen to increase the diversity and range of expertise on the Board; finding individuals from areas previously under represented, including music management, venue ownership and electronic/dance music, which has now been achieved.

International DJ and founder of Circus Music, which recently hosted ‘The First Dance’, the UK’s first club event since Covid struck, Yousef, said: “I’m honoured to be volunteering on the LCR Music Board. I’ll be using my skills, experience and knowledge to find, develop, unify and assist as many talented individuals and organisations as possible across our relentlessly effervescent Liverpool City Region”

The Liverpool City Region Music Board meets each month (currently virtually) and members also attend relevant sub-group meetings that focus on the key priorities of the Board, which include: safeguarding and protecting music venues; growing current and future music heritage and developing the Beatles’ legacy; increasing access to music education; and engaging and developing new talent. A new sub-group has recently been added, which will focus on Gender Equality.

New Board member, Louise Nulty, will also attend the Gender Equality sub-group meetings. She said: “I’m extremely pleased to be representing the borough of Halton within the Music Board, acting as a voice for females in the music industry and also the borough’s music scene, ensuring that opportunities are available to all musicians across the city region.

With such a strong and diverse Board we will most definitely ensure that music businesses and communities have a stronger voice in local and regional decision making.”

Now made up of 22 members and 8 observers, together the Board boasts a broad range of backgrounds and industry expertise who will cement city region’s position as one of the world’s music capitals.

Contributing remotely from his home in Hampshire, Les Spaine will share his knowledge of the city’s music heritage, reflecting on the local music scene in the 70s and 80s, and his personal experiences relating to equality and diversity. His involvement in Music Management will also support the Board’s dedication to growing current and future music, and developing new talent.

Les said: “I feel I have something to offer, as someone with a music career founded in Liverpool, and also in terms of ethnicity. I may not be living in Liverpool anymore, but it’s still the place I call home. I’m extremely proud of the city, particularly its heritage steeped in music, and so I’m excited to contribute as a member of the Music Board.”

Speaking about the new recruits, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “From pioneering artists to our legendary grassroots scene, music is an indelible part of our region’s DNA; something that we are famous for across the world.

I set up the Liverpool City Region Music Board to protect our musical heritage, promote its exciting present and shape its future. We’ve really seen it come into its own over the last year through schemes like the LCR Music Support Fund, which we launched to help sustain the industry through the pandemic.

Thanks to work we’ve done over that period, there are brighter days ahead for our region’s music industry. These new appointments should help to take the Board and its work from strength-to-strength and help us ensure that the local music scene continues to be as strong, vibrant and diverse as possible.”

With so many valuable candidates applying to be members of the Board, other applicants have also been invited to join specific sub-groups, attending the regular meetings to contribute their professional insight and knowledge.