The Beatles Legacy Group

The Beatles Legacy Group (BLG) was set up in February 2016, in direct response to a report demonstrating that Beatles’ tourism boosted Liverpool’s economy by £81.9m a year and supported 2,335 jobs.

The report titled Beatles Heritage in Liverpool and its Economic and Cultural Sector Impact was commissioned by Liverpool City Council and produced by Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool. It was the first ever study of the contemporary value of The Beatles and was commissioned to provide an evidence base from which policies and actions could be developed to maximise the value of Beatles heritage to the City of Liverpool.

The report said that the city needed to maintain standards to boost tourism, so the BLG was convened to develop and support the sector, facilitating and promoting a joined-up approach to maximising the economic, cultural and community benefits of The Beatles’ legacy to the Liverpool City Region. The group chaired by Peter Hooton met for the first time in March 2016.

Since then, the group has influenced policy, including improvements to licensing, and supported initiatives like the Beatles-themed murals in the city centre, and the development of a Beatles MA at the Institute of Popular Music. It acts as a key component in managing the ongoing, growing impact of The Beatles on Liverpool’s economy and champions the band’s legacy in the Liverpool City Region and beyond, to advocate for further investment and support for the cultural sector.

This year the BLG marks 10 years; a milestone which is being celebrated with the launch of a new Liverpool Music Heritage Trail and the announcement of the commissioning of a new report reviewing the cultural and economic value of The Beatles over the past 10 years since the creation of the BLG. The BLG also plans to form a non-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC)

Board members are:
Peter Hooton, Chair
Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music at Liverpool City Council
Paul Gallagher, Music Heritage Consultant
Billy Addy, Chief Executive of the Liverpool BID Company
Sarah Lovell, Lead Officer – Culture, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Spencer Leigh, BBC Radio Presenter and Author
Dr Mike Jones, Institute of Popular Music, University of Liverpool
Eddie Berg, Creative Consultant and Co-Chair at The Bluecoat
Dr Holly Tessler, Programme Leader, MA Beatles, Heritage and Culture, Institute of Popular Music
Chris Brown, Business Consultant
Lesley Woodbridge, Cultural Heritage Consultant