Meet the two Solent graduates making music accessible for all

It wasn’t until a couple of years later, however, that their shared passion for connecting the music industry with the local community brought them together and sparked a successful partnership.

Later this month, the two Solent alumni will run the third instalment of the Parallel Music Conference, taking place across multiple venues including The Spark. This year’s event is set to be the biggest yet, thanks to funding secured from Arts Council England’s Grassroots Music Fund, which will help support the conference on 23–24 April.

Matt and Jamie have always been committed to making music more accessible and breaking down barriers to an industry that has historically been difficult for people from diverse or low‑income backgrounds to enter. With that mission in mind, entry to the conference and all panel sessions remains completely free.

Solent’s Course Lead for BA (Hons) Music Business and BA (Hons) Event Management, James Hannam, along with other academic staff, has supported the pair since they first brought the idea to him in 2023. This collaboration led to the inaugural event being held on Solent’s campus as a proof of concept in 2024.

Building on that success, the conference expanded last year in partnership with the University of Southampton, delivering a two‑day showcase across three venues. Speakers such as Ruth Barlow (Chair - Association of Independent Music, Director of Live Licensing - Beggars Group), Gareth Mellor (SVP, Global Marketing & Communications - Downtown Music) & James Moodie (Managing Director - Distiller Music & Solent Alumni) shared valuable insights into the industry, and attendance grew by nearly 70%.

Co-Founder & Programme Director, Jamie Ford, said:

“We can’t wait to champion what the Southampton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight music communities and ecosystems have to offer, to the rest of the country. In addition, we’re incredibly grateful for the support from Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund for 2026 - enabling us to support and champion communities more than ever.”

Reflecting on the growth of the event in its third year, James Hannam said:

"Seeing the Parallel Music Conference grow from an initial idea into a major fixture in the city’s cultural calendar has been incredibly rewarding. Matt and Jamie have shown real drive, creativity and passion for making the music industry more accessible, and that aligns perfectly with what we aim to achieve at Solent. All of us at Solent are proud to have supported them from the start and can’t wait to see how far they take it this year."

Jamie and Matt have also strengthened their connection to Solent and the local region by taking on first‑year Solent student Denisha Skilton in the role of Conference Assistant. By bringing Denisha into the team so early in her career, they are providing vital hands‑on experience and building the professional networks that can make a real difference in the music industry.

Jamie credits his own early industry connections to his time at Solent—an example of the University’s commitment to ensuring students are ‘career‑ready’ through practical experience and meaningful links with employers and partners.

With preparations underway, both partners are now looking forward to welcoming industry leaders from across the country to Southampton in April. The full lineup of speakers for the 2026 Parallel Music Conference will be announced later this month.