Opportunities

Explore the latest opportunities from MusicFutures for artists, innovators and music businesses across the Liverpool City Region.

From funding and business support to skills, programmes and training, this page brings together all current ways to get involved, develop your ideas and grow your career or organisation in the music industry.

MusicFutures Future Live Fan Experiences

Call Opens: 13th April 2026 Call Deadline: 29th May 2026

The live events sector is rapidly evolving due to immersive technologies, AI, and advanced connectivity, with younger audiences expecting more interactive and personalised experiences.

The Future Fan Experiences R&D Challenge, led by XR Network+ and MusicFutures in partnership with Liverpool Experience Campus, supports projects that develop innovative prototypes to enhance fan engagement in music. It operates through a collaborative model bringing together a venue partner, research or industry contributors, and expert intermediaries.

Funding category

Innovation Funding, Industry Collaborations

Funding available

  • Up to £25,000 funding for 2 projects

Who it’s for

Registered SMEs

Project delivery

October 2026 – March 2027

Location requirement

Applicants must be based in the Liverpool City Region.

Find Out More

MusicFutures Music Entrepreneur Fund

Call Opens: 20th April 2026 Call Deadline: 1st June 2026

MusicFutures is launching the Music Entrepreneur Fund to support and elevate bold, future-facing ideas for new products, services, processes and experiences in the music sector.

Funding category

Innovation Funding, Training & Skills

Funding available

  • Up to £5,000 in direct financial support, and additional business support.

Who it’s for

Sole traders, freelancers, and micro-businesses (fewer than 5 employees) working on new products, services, processes and experiences for the music industry.

Project delivery

1st October 2026 – 31st March 2027

Location requirement

Applicants must be based in the Liverpool City Region.

Find Out More

MusicFutures Music Innovation Fund

Call Opens: 12th May 2026 Call Deadline: 19th June 2026

For registered SMEs or CICs proposing breakthrough innovation in the music sector across the Liverpool City Region.

Funding category

Innovation Funding

Funding available

  • Up to £20,000 funding
  • Additional tailored support, to accelerate R&D, prototype development, testing, and deployment of innovative solutions.

Who it’s for

Registered SMEs or CICs that are proposing a music innovation with a clear route to real-world use, commercialisation, and sector impact. Projects must be fully defined and ready to start at application stage.

Project delivery

1st October 2026 – 31st March 2027

Location requirement

Applicants must be based in the Liverpool City Region.

Find Out More

PhD Studentship – Finding solutions to the most pressing managerial challenges impacting the music sector

Call Deadline: 5th June 2026

In partnership with University of Liverpool Management School, MusicFutures is offering full financial support to tackle the biggest managerial challenges impacting the music sector, with a four year PhD Studentship.

Funding category

PhD Scholarships

Funding available

  • £21,805 annual maintenance grant
  • Coverage of PhD programme fees (at UK rate)
  • Higher education teacher training and practice

Who it’s for

For anyone interested in business and management research at the crossroads of music, innovation, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and the future of Liverpool City Region's music economy.

Project delivery

Start Date: August 2026

Location requirement

Liverpool City Region

Find Out More

PhD Scholarship – Performers’ Rights, Personality, and AI

Call Deadline: 22nd June 2026

In partnership with University of Liverpool School of Law & Social Justice, MusicFutures is offering financial support to explore the intersection of intellectual property, personality rights, and emerging AI technologies.

Funding category

PhD Scholarships

Funding available

  • Cover Fees (at UK home rate)
  • Annual Stipend (at UKRI rate)
  • Access to an annual personal conference allowance, in line with other Law PhD candidates within the department.

Who it’s for

For anyone interested in exploring the intersection of intellectual property, personality rights, and emerging AI technologies.

Project delivery

Start Date: October 2026

Location requirement

Liverpool City Region

Find Out More

PhD Studentship – Reimagining Music Venues: Spatial, Digital & Experiential Innovation in Live Music

Call Deadline: 10th July 2026

In partnership with University of Liverpool Department of Architecture, MusicFutures is offering full financial support to explore how technologies such as AI, real-time systems, and responsive digital environments can enable the development of new, imaginative, and economically impactful products, services, and experiences. By foregrounding innovation and scalability, the PhD will contribute to models of growth that support a more sustainable and future-facing music ecosystem.

Funding category

PhD Scholarships

Funding available

  • Tax-free stipend of £21,805 p.a. (2026/27 UKRI rate)
  • Tuition fees (£5,238), £27,043 in total.

Who it’s for

For anyone interested in exploring how technologies such as AI, real-time systems, and responsive digital environments can enable the development of new, imaginative, and economically impactful products, services, and experiences.

Project delivery

Start Date: October 2026

Location requirement

Liverpool City Region

Find Out More

PhD Studentship – Immersive Media, Digital Culture and Future Music Experiences

Call Deadline: 17th July 2026

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is seeking to appoint a full-time, funded PhD researcher within the Liverpool School of Art and Creative Industries (LSACI), commencing in September 2026. The PhD offers an opportunity to explore how immersive and emerging technologies may shape more inclusive, participatory and sustainable futures for music, creative practice and digital cultural experience.

Funding category

PhD Scholarships

Funding available

  • Tax-free stipend of £21,805 p.a. (2026/27 UKRI rate)
  • Full tuition fees for three years
  • Additional research support/bench fee funding

Who it’s for

For anyone interested in exploring how immersive and emerging technologies may shape more inclusive, participatory and sustainable futures for music, creative practice and digital cultural experience.

Project delivery

Start Date: September 2026

Find Out More
Contact us

Get Involved in the Future of Music

Join the network shaping innovation across the music sector.

Get in touch