Output Belfast: Music's boundary-breaking conference returns

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 6th Aug 2025
Last updated 6th Aug 2025

On Thursday 25th September 2025, the Cathedral Quarter will transform into the capital of music industry innovation as Output, Ireland’s largest one-day music conference, returns to the city with its largest and most ambitious edition yet - completely free of charge.

Unapologetically forward-thinking, this one-of-a-kind conference convenes leading figures to equip Northern Ireland’s music community with an essential, valuable creative toolkit.

Output is committed to creating a diverse programme of panels led by industry experts, creating growth and world-class networking opportunities for emerging and established talents.

INDUSTRY TITANS TAKE THE STAGE

This year's opening keynote features an unprecedented convergence of music industry powerhouses:

Crispin Hunt (Chairman - PRS for Music) - The voice reshaping how creators receive their composition royalties.

Tom Gray - Mercury Prize-winning musician, music-rights activist and Chair of the Ivors Academy.

Naomi Pohl (General Secretary - Musicians' Union) - The fearless advocate championing artists' rights in an AI-disrupted landscape.

FULL PROGRAMME

This extraordinary Opening Keynote kicks off a day featuring 28 cutting-edge sessions spanning every corner of the industry - from artist development to styling your band, sustainable careers to global market expansion:

1.CMU Presents - Get Played, Get Paid: How Music Streaming Really Works

2.The State of The Live Industry in the UK and EU

3.Playing A (Peaky) Blinder - Meet The Film and High-End TV Music Supervisors

4.MPG Presents - Building A Career As A Music Producer, Mixer or Mastering Engineer

5.Owning The Social Media Game

6.Fix up Look Sharp - How to Style Your Band

7.A Picture Is Worth A Million Streams - Making Photography Work For Your Music, Band and Shows

8.MPAI Presents: Publishers role in Co-Writing: The Perfect Matchmaker

9.Mastering YouTube - Make Your Content Stand Out On The World's Biggest Music Discovery Platform

10.PRS For Music Presents - Level up - Inside The World Of Composing Music For Video Games

11.Meet The Author - Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion - André Marmot In Conversation with Dana Masters

12.Radio Ga Ga - Pitching new music to national radio

13.Power Up - How PRS Foundation Is Supporting Black Music Creators And Industry Professionals And How You Can Get Involved

14.Screen Composers Guild of Ireland presents - Child's Play - Writing Music And Songs For Children's Television And Media

15.The DIY Toolkit - Touring, Releasing & Creating On A Budget

SIGN-UPS OPEN NOW

Registration opens 6th August over at outputbelfast.com

The full program lineup drops 6th August, with a special closing keynote announcement coming in early September.

Quotes from Keynote Speakers

Tom Gray Quote: “I’m thrilled to be coming to Belfast cos I bloody love the place. The city breathes with music and activism - just like me. Music is under threat and there’s a lot to talk about.”

Crispin Hunt Quote: “It’s a real privilege to join Output Belfast, now firmly established as a key date in the music industry calendar it is an event that celebrates bold ideas and empowers creative minds. Northern Ireland has always been a hub of musical brilliance, I look forward to thought-provoking discussions and connecting with the talented songwriters, composers, and music publishers in this vibrant city.”

Head to outputbelfast.com for the full programme and schedule.

Read more:

Renee Rapp adds Dublin show to EU tour next year

Shamrock Tenors announce 'Christmas in Belfast' show at the Waterfront Hall

Farmers Bash Weekender: Everything you need to know before you go 🤠

How to listen to Cool FM:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for music, Cool FM on 97.4FM, online, on our Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Cool FM’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists, from Pete Snodden in the morning to the NI Hit 40.