Academy Music Group (AMG), whose shareholders include Live Nation, SJM Concerts and Metropolis Music, is the UK’s leading owner and operator of multi-award winning, nationwide O2 Academy venues in Brixton (London), Islington (London), Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Oxford and Bournemouth as well as O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (London). AMG is also a majority shareholder in O2 ABC Glasgow.
www.academy-music-group.co.uk

Doodson Entertainment is a leading, internationally recognised insurance broker to clients operating in many different entertainment sectors. Working both at grass roots and with globally acclaimed acts and organisations in its field, Doodson Entertainment’s expertise is proven, trusted and built on over forty years of experience. As part of Doodson Broking Group, established in 1964, the company operates from six offices across the UK and US.
www.doodsonbg.com

Unique among the music business’ many and various interest bodies, MusicTank is the country’s leading, independent, sector-specific business development network for the UK music industry. Established in 2003 to inform and guide the future shape of the music business through engagement with industry, change and innovation, MusicTank has built an enviable reputation for its ongoing and unique programme of think tank debates, events, occasional courses and conferences, a natural progression from which has been the delivery of incisive reports commissioned from key industry figureheads.
Its content-rich website – www.musictank.co.uk – contains a wealth of industry information and resources, together with event transcripts and podcasts, news and research papers. Visitors to the site can sign-up to a free monthly e-mail newsletter, or for a small annual subscription become members, giving access to premium content.
MusicTank is owned and operated by University of Westminster.

The UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University is one of the world’s leading provider of events management education and is led by an eminent group of events and festivals specialists. Alongside teaching, the Centre’s staff are engaged in extensive research and enterprise work; publishing their findings in prominent textbooks and journals and supporting businesses regionally, nationally and internationally. Courses are offered at all levels and provide both academic and professionally recognised qualifications, opening the door to challenging careers in the vibrant and rapidly expanding events industry.
www.eventsandfestivalsresearch.com

The Yorkshire Festivals Network is the region’s support and advocacy service for arts, cultural and music festivals and is based at the UK Centre for Events Management. With a mission to help festivals reach their full potential, the Network offers a year-round programme of events, professional development opportunities and consultancy. Membership also enables access to the latest industry news and research, volunteers and staff, new connections and promotional platforms.
The Network was founded in 2007 with support from Arts Council England and a remit to provide the regional sector with one single voice; ensuring festivals play a key role in the cultural infrastructure, supporting access to the arts in under-resourced parts of the region and further enabling platforms for high quality creative practice.
Membership is free: Festival organisers, freelancers, arts practitioners, local authority and funding body representatives all welcome to join.
www.yorkshirefestivalsnetwork.com