THE organisers of Liverpool Sound City said this year’s industry conference has helped Merseyside businesses make potentially vital contacts with some of the leading players in the music business.

The conference – called Starmakers, Chameleons, Mavericks and Svengalis – saw a series of debates at Liverpool’s Hard Day’s Night Hotel about the future of the music industry.

Speakers included influential American DJ Nic Harcourt and representatives from companies including Sony and Universal.

On Friday and Saturday, the music industry was put “on trial” at an inquiry at St George’s Hall. A jury of young people were able to quiz witnesses from companies including Sony Computer Entertainment and Warner Chappell Publishing.

Festival director Dave Pichilingi said: “The music industry is getting more and more important in Merseyside.

“We’re going to put Liverpool on the business map for the whole of the industry and make sure we build the industry in Liverpool. It’s already there – we’re going to feed it and give it fresh new opportunities.”

One of the key events at the conference was a Meet The Buyer session, organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the Northwest Development Agency. It saw around 50 North West businesses meet music business executives from around the world.

Mr Pichilingi said the event was designed to give people from small music businesses the chance to talk to high-level executives they would otherwise never get to meet.