The music industry, like many other industries, is under threat due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Live music supports 200,000 jobs in the UK - but 60% of those are now under threat.

On this episode of Alone Together, Dan McLaughlin and Matt Millard look at the challenges that music is facing - and what can be done to resolve them.

London-based singer-songwriter and recording artist Aymee Weir chats to Matt about her experiences as a musician in lockdown - and what her plans are for the future.

Michael Webster, who runs record label Bread Records, which promotes and releases music from unsigned and local artists in Manchester, talks to Dan about the challenges facing grassroots music - and what needs to be done to protect it.

Dan also chats to Imogen Storey and James Duckworth, members of alt-rock band Novustory, about how they refurbished the Esche Haus Recording Studio in Blackburn during lockdown. Imogen and James, who mentor aspiring musicians at Esche Haus, also share their tips on how to succeed in the industry.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is edited by Matt Millard.