ABOUT US

WHAT WE DO

Come Play With Me champions creativity across the North of England. We work with musicians, sound engineers, promoters, photographers, writers and event programmers to build skills, grow networks and open up opportunities — all while driving a more equitable and inclusive creative industry.

We specialise in LGBTQ+ inclusion, delivering consultancy and workshops that help organisations create safer, more supportive spaces in the Music Industry and beyond.

Our flagship conference, I Know A Place, which takes place Annually, supports, showcases and opens doors for marginalised communities working in music. Our aims are to demystify the Music Industry, lower access barriers and start integral conversations that hope to inspire positive change for all.

Through Come Platform Me, we nurture the next generation of Music Producers, Sound Engineers and Events promoters, alongside providing opportunities for emerging photographers, videographers and creatives to take the next step.

Alongside delivering previous artist development programmes such as Next Up North, Come Play With Breed and the Side by Side compilation, what began as a 7” singles club is now a dynamic platform powering the future of Northern music.

OUR BRAND VALUES

PROGRESSIVE OUTLOOK

We’re always looking for ways to challenge the music industry. Whether it’s supporting regional artists, prioritising marginalised voices or carving out our own way of doing things, our aim is to push for a more welcoming and accessible sector. We’re committed to reflecting on our own practices and adapting our approaches when we need to.

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

We are all about collaboration. We are as keen to learn from others as we are to showcase our own knowledge, fostering positive community spirit and solidarity across the music industry. We work to build relationships with regional, national and international partners, furthering our reach and supporting our peers to mutual benefit.

DEVELOPING CAREERS

We are focused on supporting people to develop sustainable creative careers in the music industry. We connect people with opportunities, skills development, and peer to peer networks to learn from and collaborate with. Beyond this, we provide practical advice, conference sessions and workshops that empower the people we work with to keeping learning and developing.

WORKING EQUITABLY

We specialise in supporting people from marginalised communities further their careers in music. We help break down barriers to success for individuals and we’re committed to centering the people that need it most in all our projects. We spend time with other organisations, helping them create more inclusive spaces for marginalised people and learning from them too. We strive to ensure that our team and board accurately reflect the people we support through our projects.

PRIORITISING PEOPLE

We prioritise people over profit or products and put a focus on well-being and peer-to-peer support. We work intersectionally, with the knowledge that marginalised people have complex and often compounding barriers to accessing the music industry. We listen, reflect and adapt so that our work is offering the support people need when they need it.

NOT FOR PROFIT

We run on a profit-for-re-investment basis. This ensures every penny goes towards empowering more people, developing our projects, and giving marginalised communities the tools they need to create sustainable careers in music.