Logo of Output Belfast featuring a black square with a white circle inside, followed by the words 'OUTPUT' in large black letters and 'BELFAST' underneath in smaller white letters.

24TH SEPTEMBER
THE MAC & OH YEAH

OUTPUT 2026 SIGN UP IS OPEN!

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10AM - OPENING KEYNOTE


Tom Kiehl - Chief Executive of UK Music - The voice of the UK music industry towards the government

Catherine Martin - Head of Policy, Ireland, Ivors Academy - Former Irish Minister for Culture who introduced the landmark Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme in 2022

David Martin - Chief Executive Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) - The UK trade body representing the specific rights and interests of music artists

11:30 SESSIONS

11:30 SESSIONS

  • The Oh Yeah Music Centre

    We put the spotlight on the role of the music producer, the deals they agree with artists and record labels, and crucially how producers get paid. As the record industry has evolved, the commercial relationship between producers, artists and labels has changed too. Based on the Producer Deals Guide (published by MPG and MMF), find out what producers, artists and labels need to consider whenever they collaborate on new music.


    Speakers - Chris Cooke (CMU) Cameron Craig (The Music Producers Guild) Jill Hollywood (Producer Manager)

  • The Factory, 6th Floor, The MAC

    A deep dive into the skillset required to compose for television, with composer Dave Rowntree (The 

    Capture / BBC1 / Blur drummer) and more.


    Speakers - Dave Rowntree (Composer), Anna Rice (Composer) 

    Moderator - Sarah Glennane (CEO, Screen Composers Guild)

  • The Lab, 6th Floor, The MAC

    A panel of experts - including songwriter Catherine Anne Davies, who has co-written with Ed Harcourt (Paloma Faith, James Bay), Liam Howe (Jessie Ware, Marina) and Paul Statham (Kylie Minogue, Dido) - unpack the skills needed to start co-writing with other people.


    Speakers - Catherine Davies (The Anchorees / Songwriter) Andy Skinner (Songwriter / Ivors Academy) Imogen Williams (Songwriter), Iain Archer (Songwriter / Ivors Academy)


    Moderator - Aaron Casey (International Operations Manager RAAP)

  • Upstairs Theatre, 1st Floor, The MAC

    This panel will bring together voices from music publishing, legal and artist management to explore the business side of music creation. Panelists will offer practical insights into music publishing, songwriter agreements, copyright protection, contract negotiation, legal challenges and the importance of building a sustainable long-term career in music and AI.

    Speakers - Liam Trappe (Warner Chappell Music), Willie Ryan (Music Lawyer, Artist Manager), Sharon Boyse-Smith (Sony Music Publishing) 

    Moderator - Rory McPartland (Music Supervisor / Publisher)

  • The Hub, 4th Floor, The MAC

    Beyond Skin is an organisation based in Northern Ireland, which was established in January 2004 to use music, arts & new media as a tool for cultural education & exchange in an aim to address issues of racism & sectarianism. They design and facilitate innovative music, arts & media projects that strengthen community relations, nurture peace processes, cultivate security, empower youth and promote interaction between different cultures. This panel will include live music. 


    Speakers - Soraya Hossaini (Afghan singer, musician and fashion designer), Cliff Cooper (Orange Amplifiers, Sustainable Music Education), Behnaz Mafakheri (Beyond Skin), Sudeshna Biswas (Founder - Lighthouse Enterprise, Tarang Wave of Melodies) 

    Moderator - Darren Ferguson (Founder, Beyond Skin)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    Downstairs Theatre, Ground Floor, The MAC

    From music discovery platforms such as The Great Escape, through to local and national music festivals like Stendhal and Deer Shed, bookers and agents discuss the pathway for new musicians pitching to play at festivals, and what REALLY matters.


    Speakers - Ross Parkhill (Stendhal Festival), Angie Rance (Booking Agent - Earth Agency), Megan Evans (Deer Shed Festival), Ben Ryles (DHP Family), Siobhan Brown (Soultrane), Oskar Strajn (Eurosonic)

    Moderator - Addison Paterson (Shine)

12:40 SESSIONS

12:40 SESSIONS

  • The Oh Yeah Music Centre

    What skills and knowledge do early-career artists need to release music, build a fanbase, perform live and grow their artist businesses? How can music education better support young people embarking on a music career - and could 'digital badges' that provide a practical learning framework help? Pathways Into Music is developing resources and learning programmes to support educators, talent development organisations, and young people directly. Find out more about this work and tell us how you think we can make it better.


    Speakers - Chris Cooke (CMU), Phil Nelson (Pathways Into Music), Charlotte Dryden (Oh Yeah Music Centre), Max Wheeler (Charanga) and more.

  • The Hub, 4th Floor, The MAC

    The landscape for breaking electronic music is changing fast. Bringing together Beatport, LabelWorx, Inflyte and Material Music, this panel explores how music is signed, distributed, promoted and discovered today - and how technology, data, changing DJ behaviour and new routes to audiences are shaping the journey from demo to dancefloor now and into the future.


    Speakers - Helen Sartory (CRO - Beatport), Dominic Kerley (VP - Labelwox), Luke McFarlane (Head of Music - Material Music) 

    Moderator - Paul Hamill (CEO - Inflyte)

  • Upstairs Theatre, 1st Floor, The MAC

    Featuring music supervisors whose work includes How to Get To Heaven From Belfast, Saipan, Mourinho, Good Omens, Happy Valley, The Apprentice and Limitless - a truly unmissable myth-busting chat from the best in the business.


    Speakers - Catherine Grimes (Music Supervisor), Michelle De Vries (Music Supervisor), Dina Coughlan (Music Supervisor), John McCallion (Music Consultant)

    Moderator - Kathryn Rodger (Wise Music)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    Downstairs Theatre, Ground Floor, The MAC

    Launching a new music project is a busy time for artists, and can present an array of decisions and challenges! This panel aims to help independent artists prioritise what is right for them when planning their release strategy. Bringing together a panel of experts in production, distribution, content creation, promotion and a view on what catches the eye of new music tastemakers, How To Launch A Music Project is a must for anyone who is planning to release music. 

    Speakers - Matt Harris (Amplify Agency), Beta Da Silva (New Music Show, RTÉ 2FM), Abby Davidson (Fantaisie Media) 
    Moderator - Sheena Madden (Amplify Agency)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    The Lab, 6th Floor, The MAC

    The Orchard co-founder, music and tech entrepreneur Scott Cohen, talks to Jeff Thompson about building the world’s first global distribution company 30 years ago and what the new battle for creators and rightsholders is today. Cohen will talk about his journey in music, tech and innovation in the modern music business and what a progressive music industry in the future could look like.



    Speaker - Scott Cohen

    Moderator - Jeff Thompson (Unconvention)

  • The Factory, 6th Floor, The MAC

    Every new band thinks that what they need is a manager. Someone who can book shows, find them record deals, do the admin, and let the artists kick back and write songs. Right? When do new bands actually need a manager? And what do managers look for when thinking about taking on a new project? 


    Speakers - Katherine Melling (Manager), Sarah O’Sullivan (SOS Artist Management), Ben Magee (Manager, Chalk / Joshua Burnside / Lemonade Shoelace) 


    Moderator - Aaron Casey (International Operations Manager RAAP)

13:40 SESSIONS

13:40 SESSIONS

  • Downstairs Theatre, Ground Floor, The MAC

    For any composer wishing to work on a BBC show, any artist or artist team wondering how to get that Sky Sports promo, or anyone working in any music rights who wants to understand the pathway towards how music gets used in television on BBC and Sky - this panel will map out the music teams for BBC and Sky, and open up the pipeline of pitching towards both.


    Speakers - Peter Bradbury (Director of Music Services - Sky), Nicky Bignell (Head of Music Rights - BBC)

    Moderator - Mark Gordon (Score Draw)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    The Lab, 6th Floor, The MAC

    As traditional media continues to wither on the vine - new generations of music media content flourish. This panel will interrogate the three main types of DIY music journalism in 2026 - podcasts, YouTube / other visual content, and a new generation of specialist music magazines - work out both how to set them up, and also discuss how artists can access their editorial teams.


    Speakers -  Mark Millar (XS Noize), Sean Adams (Drowned in Sound), Rebecca Breene (Art to Art), Pete Renshaw (Singer, Booker/Promoter - Voodoo Belfast)  

    Moderator - Aaron Casey (International Operations Manager RAAP)

  • The Factory, 6th Floor, The MAC

    The Circle by Jameson Music returned for its fifth year at the All Together Now festival - Curated by The Tenth Man, the stage featured headliners MS Dynamite and MIKE, alongside a diverse lineup of homegrown and international acts. It’s a great example of how band / brand activations can work for both sides. In a panel featuring Worn Out (the UK company that works with everyone from Fender to Vans) we look at how artists can thrive in this space.


    Speakers - Jameson’s Seán Noonan (Marketing Manager - Whiskey Portfolio, Jameson), Tony Arthy (Worn Out - Vans, Fender and more), Alice Cinnamond (Creative Designer & Art Director)

    Moderator - Dylan Murphy (The Tenth Man)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    The Oh Yeah Music Centre

    Reality check - touring costs money. Is the timing right? How do I cost the tour before funding it? Where is the income coming from?  What are funders actually looking for? Common mistakes to avoid? All this and more in a workshop and Q&A supported by the Musicians Union. Limited spaces available. 


    Speakers -  Kelly Wood and Charlene Hegarty (Musicians Union)

  • Upstairs Theatre, 1st Floor, The MAC

    Independent labels continue to come on stream in Ireland in 2026 - most recently Anam Records run by Rory Friers (ASIWYFA) and Jason Hawthorne (First Press Records). Between digital and physical releasing, genre and artist specific record labels, and emerging platforms - what's the best way to set up a new record label - and what artists do those labels want to sign?


    Speakers -  Chris Keena (Anthem Vinyl), Ciara Maher (Soil To The Sun Recordings), Sean Price (Brook Records), Chris Blackmore (Emu Bands), Jason Hawthorne and Rory Friers (Anam Records)

    Moderator - Rocky O’Reilly (Founder - Start Together Studios)

  • The Hub, 4th Floor, The MAC

    Janet Devlin is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter. Her journey from viral X Factor UK finalist in 2011 to authentic country-rock music artist showcases her musical evolution. Devlin’s 2021 alt-country single “Place Called Home” marked her entry into the genre, followed by her acclaimed country-infused album “Emotional Rodeo.”  

    Recorded at Martina McBride’s Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Devlin’s album achieved significant success, reaching #1 on iTunes Country Charts and #4 on the UK Official Country Artists Albums Chart.  


    Speaker - Janet Devlin 

    Moderator - Taylor Johnson (BBC Introducing)

14:50 SESSIONS

14:50 SESSIONS

  • Downstairs Theatre, Ground Floor, The MAC

    Chalk are one of the most important bands to come out of Northern Ireland in the last 10 years. Their debut album - Crystalpunk - was a UK Dance Chart number one record. On top of this, the band have travelled the world (including a debut performance at Lollapalooza) playing blistering live shows. Their visual identity - the look of the band, design of the record, and live presence - have a powerful and singular through-line. This session will unpack how bands create this kind of cohesion across all visual aspects of their work.


    Speakers -  Ross Cullen (Chalk), Ben Goddard (Chalk), Olivia Creighton (Stylist, Designer)

  • FULLY SUBSCRIBED

    The Lab, 6th Floor, The MAC

    Radio remains one of the most compelling ways for emerging artists to reach mass markets. There is a clearly defined pipeline that goes from independent radio through regional BBC Introducing to national broadcast opportunities on stations like BBC 6 Music, and onwards to Radio 1 and 2. This session will lay out how new music can be pitched to radio stakeholders and move through this process.


    Speakers -  Jenn Crothers (BBC / Boogaloo Radio), Luke Gray (Head of Radio- Your Army PR), Lewis Reeves (New Music Fix Daily, BBC 6 Music), Millie Carter (BBC Introducing), Kelly Betts (BBC Introducing) 

    Moderator - Taylor Johnson (BBC Introducing NI)

  • The Factory, 6th Floor, The MAC

    There are three ways in which music can end up on a TV show, film, advert or game. Composed (written to picture), sync (where a band's music is used by a supervisor), and library or production music (where usage across all media is huge). It's a great opportunity for emerging composers to try out instrumental music that might work on media, or a great side-hustle for an artist or producer. How do you get into it? This panel will explain.


    Speakers -  Claire Batchelor (Production Music Composer for TV), Ciarán Birch (Composer  - Trailers) 

    Moderator - Dean Fagan (Head of Royalties - Sopher + Co / Composer)

  • Upstairs Theatre, 1st Floor, The MAC

    Artists can often be totally overwhelmed when it comes to marketing themselves - and more and more services are coming into the marketplace to plug into artist strategies and remove the heavy lifting from things like selling music, merch and tickets, pulling in a proper audience, and catalogue strategies. Featuring Tribe MGMT (Amber Run, Beras Den and Muki), this session will look at ways new artists can plug in marketing strategies to their development.


    Speakers - Marion Sosnowicz (Music Glue), Sam Lee (Songular), Rowan Brand (Tribe Management) 


    Moderator - Aaron Casey (International Operations Manager RAAP)

  • The Oh Yeah Music Centre

    The live sector in Northern Ireland continues to grow year on year and provides around 70% of all jobs in music in Northern Ireland. How can people thinking about the breadth of jobs available here start to find opportunities? Key companies chat through the landscape.

    Speakers - Nance Hall (Foggy Notions), Anna-Marie Henderson (Production Coordinator - Electric Picnic), Production Manager (Shine) Barry McCuskers - (McCuskers Audio), Zoe Moore (Industry Analyst)

    Moderator - Paddy Craig (SRC)

  • The Works, 4th Floor, The MAC

    What in 2026 can be more compelling as a showcase for songwriting and performance than the iconoclastic Eurovision Song Competition? Songwriting here has nowhere to hide - you have three minutes to dazzle over 200 million sets of eyes and ears. In this, a first for Output, we look at the opportunity through a premier league set of panellists including the legendary Irish performer Dana who, while still in school, won the song competition in 1970 with the track "All Kinds of Everything".

    Speakers - Dana (Ireland-winning Eurovision singer), Luke Black (Eurovision Songwriter and Performer - Serbia), Dominika Hašková (Eurovision Performer and Songwriter - Czech Republic) 

    Introduced by Stuart Fleming (Senior Manager, Writer Relations, Northern Ireland & Scotland - PRS) 

    Moderated by Mark Gordon (Score Draw)

  • The Hub, 4th Floor, The MAC

    UK Music are developing their manifesto for music for Northern Ireland ahead of the 2027 Assembly Elections. Join this workshop session with UK Music to share your expertise, swap ideas, highlight Northern Irish success and  influence  the future of music in NI.

    Led by UK Music

THE LYNDON STEPHENS CLOSING KEYNOTE

TRAD LIFE

How traditional songs, melodies and tunes from Ireland are powering contemporary culture - from the Fleadh to Peaky Blinders

In 2026 you’re as likely to hear an arrangement of “The Wild Rover” in a film or TV series as on the streets of Belfast with 1.6 million other visitors at at this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Traditional pieces of music, both instrumental and songs - are all over contemporary culture - the canon of Irish melody is powering cultural conversations and underscoring moving images as far and wide as Netflix and Disney.

This panel will examine how in 2026 traditional songs, melodies, tunes and music from Ireland are being used across new storytelling - and what this means for performance, festivals and across visual media.

Speakers - Bernadette Morris (Singer-Songwriter), Joshua Burnside (Songwriter, Singer, and Producer), Úna Monaghan (Harper, Composer, Researcher, Sound Artist), Dónal O’Connor (Founder and Artistic Director - Belfast TradFest)

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