Is there a new Tony Wilson then?

Given the panel and the topic, it was perhaps unavoidable that last night’s debate would be dominated by the past and by the music industry.
Manager of Happy Mondays andSimply Red, Elliott Rashman, media psychologist Dr David A Holmes and Stevie Smith from Manchester based events agency Ear to the Ground took part in the debate chaired by writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator John Robb to look at what’s next for the city after Tony Wilson’s death.
The steaming video clips captured in the (rather dark) venue should give a flavour of the debate which centred around Wilson’s activities with Factory records and the Hacienda, with just a nod to the digital advances he championed and where future cultural expansion could be rooted.

Some references to so-called “digital natives” came up with Smith acknowledging that networks were forming with 22 and 23 year old entrepreneurs becoming influential.
In the audience was Manchester Digital Development Agency’s Dave Carter who put forward his own view of Wilson’s legacy: “He was always looking forward on the digital questions. That was what was really inspiring to me and he also had a fantastic way of bring together people who wouldn’t otherwise have come together”.
And for the record – we never did identify whether, what or who will be the next Tony Wilson. Any ideas? Feel free to comment below.