Developing Skills and Talent in the Creative Industries

Music

Here you can find help and advice on the creative music industries. This comprehensive guide includes a list of links related to: business, careers, communities, courses, jobs, producing, performing, releasing and getting paid.

Visit Studio12’s Opportunities Guide for current music events, funding & opportunities

Please note: Our site contains links to other websites, which Studio12 and Leeds City Council do not necessarily endorse. We cannot guarantee link functionality or control content and availability. While we aim to keep this page updated, please verify details yourself before applying for opportunities. Studio12 members needing help or advice can email studio12@leeds.gov.uk.

Careers Guidance 

Apprentice Nation: Mentoring Sessions. Visit Apprentice Nation’s website where you can book a free 1-1 online session with mentors from the music, production, and creative industries… Including record labels, MTV Networks and independent creatives, producers and directors.

BBC Music Introducing: Visit the BBC website to listen to masterclasses by music industry professionals. These include networking, resilience, finding jobs, running events, songwriting, record deals & more.

Help Musicians UK: A UK charity offering help to musicians throughout their careers. Visit Help Musician’s website for career advice including finance, health and well-being, and musicians’ services. They run online events where you can chat with the team, meet fellow musicians and learn from industry professionals.

Launchpad: Free Online Advice Sessions. Launchpad supports the music sector in Yorkshire. Visit Launchpad’s website to book a free 1-1 online session to discuss releasing, funding and more. 

Music Publishers Association (MPA): A UK non-profit representing music publishers. Visit MPA’s website for resources on careers, job seeking, internships, work experience, and DIY music business management.

Musicians Union: Representing over 30,000 musicians, the Musicians Union website offers advice on copyright, finance, health & safety, marketing, legal services, tax, and more.

Sound and Music: Created specifically for people aged under 25, the Young Composers Toolkit on Sound and Music’s website helps you find advice, events, and competitions to develop your composing skills. 

Youth Music: They help people aged up to 25 to make, learn, and earn in music. Visit Youth Music’s website to access resources on building a career in the music industry – from how to be a DIY artist to creating a successful brand. They also have a guide on creative ways to write about music and get your pitches accepted.

Supporting Music Industry Resources / Community

Association of Independent Music (AIM): AIM, the not-for-profit trade body for UK independent music, represents record labels, music businesses, self-releasing artists, and music entrepreneurs. Visit AIM’s website to find opportunities and resources.

Brighter Sound: A music development organisation rooted in Manchester. Visit Brighter Sound’s website to find out more about their projects and events.

British Council Music (BCM): Working globally, they create music projects and opportunities that allow people to exchange ideas across genres. Visit BCM’s website for a resource list covering UK festivals, publications, music organisations, and funding.

Caution Collective: A collective of Leeds best upcoming singer/songwriters founded by the amazing composer, vocal coach and musical director Christella Litras. Their evenings host both established and emerging singer/songwriters across multiple genres. Visit Caution Collective on Instagram to get involved.

Chapel FM: An East Leeds Community Radio station and arts centre. Visit Chapel FM’s website and Instagram to find out about events, courses, training and volunteering – from art to radio to writing.

Come Play With Me: We are a Leeds-based music development organization working with musicians, sound engineers, promoters, and event programmers across Yorkshire. We help develop their skills and networks through events, mentoring, podcasts, and workshops. We also publish a magazine and collaborate with writers, photographers, musicians, storytellers, and activists. Visit Come Play With Me’s Instagram and website.

Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM): They help protect the rights of those working in the music profession, offering members legal advice, insurance and specialist services. They provide a range of advice and resources on careers, contracts, copyright, performing rights, payment / tax, funding, and more. Visit ISM’s website to find out more.

Launchpad: They support Yorkshire’s music sector by providing advice, funding, and opportunities through their website. Launchpad programme applications open twice a year, offering mentoring, funding, and performance opportunities. They also run Unconference, the largest free annual music conference in Leeds, for networking with musicians and industry professionals.

Leeds Music Trust: A charity that bridges gaps in accessibility and brings people together. They offer musical experiences for education and pleasure, for all ages and abilities. Visit Leeds Music Trust’s website.

Old Chapel Music Studios: A recording studio and community hub based in the south of Leeds, who run courses and workshops. The Studios include rehearsal rooms and a drum room for private tuition. Visit their website to find out more.

Leeds Producer Forum (LPF): A community of Leeds producers and music makers sharing processes through Cosmic Slop sound system events, featuring top local selectors and internationally acclaimed DJs playing on a powerful custom-built sound system. Visit LPF on Instagram and Leeds Young Producers on Instagram.

Music Industry Yorkshire (MIY): Sign up for free on MIY’s website to access music business information, resources, opportunities, and to search or list events.

Music:Leeds: They run projects, events, workshops, create networking opportunities, and signpost information on music in Leeds. The Music:Leeds website includes a directory of rehearsal studios and open mic nights in Leeds.

Music Managers Forum (MMF): The world’s largest professional community that educates, informs, and represents UK managers. MMF’s website offers a network for managers to share opportunities, information, and training.

Paramount Music:  Provides emerging artists with platforms to turn dreams into careers, showcasing the city’s best new acts with exciting opportunities. Visit Paramount Music on Instagram.

Sound and Music: The national charity for new music. Visit Sound and Music’s website to find artist development programmes, opportunities and events.

Spitfire Audio: We create virtual instruments and sample libraries for composers, featuring top musicians and studios. Composers can also visit Spitfire’s website to watch educational videos.

Yorkshire Entertainment Awards: An annual event in Yorkshire awarding creatives from the region who have been picked by the public – visit them on Instagram.

Yorkshire Music Forum (YMF): They raise awareness of music opportunities in Yorkshire. Each year YMF hosts a convention – a day featuring panels, a keynote speaker, and meet the experts sessions (admission is free). Visit YMF’s website where you can also watch past conventions.

Equality in Music Community

Brighter Sound: They campaign for gender equality in the music industry and produced The All Things Equal Manifesto – visit their website to find out more.

Female:Pressure: Their website is a free international database of female, transgender, and non-binary artists in electronic music and digital arts – including musicians, composers, DJs, and visual artists. You can also join Female:Pressure on Instagram.

Girl Gang: A collective of artists, activists, academics and party instigators who produce accessible, fun and meaningful events. Visit Girl Gang Manchester on Instagram and find their events on Linktree.

Girls I Rate (GIR): They advocate for change and create opportunities for young women in music and entertainment through discussions, mentoring, and masterclasses. Visit GIR on Instagram and Campsite.

Girls That Gig: A platform based in Leeds advocating for all women in the creative and music industries. They provide events and opportunities to inspire, connect and support artists. Visit Girls That Gig on Instagram and Facebook.

Loud Women: A London-based nonprofit collective. They promote female DIY artists and female-led groups through music events, a radio show, an online zine, a festival, and a record label. They also host the UK’s largest female-led festival. Visit their website for more information and DIY guides.

ReBalance by Festival Republic: This pioneering program supports female and gender-expansive musicians by pairing them with producers for five days of free studio time, and covers travel and accommodation expenses for bespoke learning days in London and Manchester. Each artist gets a Festival Republic event slot. ReBalance also offer apprenticeships in sound engineering, stage management, and production. Visit ReBalance’s website.

Slut Drop: A collective showcasing female, non-binary, BME and LGBTQ+ creatives at events across Leeds – with a focus on hip-hop, electronic and experimental music. Visit Slut Drop on Instagram and Linktree.

The F-list: A database of UK female musicians, used by promoters and festival bookers. Self-releasing UK artists and signed songwriters or composers can list themselves on the website for free. You can also visit the F-list on Instagram. The website also contains the Music Career Toolkit for emerging artists, covering networking, releasing, making money, copyright / contracts, gigs / touring and much more.

Women Produce Music (WPM): An artist and producer led group that promotes and supports the activities of music-makers, producers and audio engineers. We open doors to industry’s commercial possibilities and provide career progression opportunities through women-led networks, innovation art and technology. Visit WPM’s website and Instagram.

Yorkshire Sound Women Network (YSWN): Through events, projects and resources, they inspire and enable women, girls and minority gender people to explore sound and music technology in Yorkshire and beyond. Their meetups are a place for sharing skills and advice, finding mentors, making friends and building communities. Visit YSWN’s Linktree and Instagram.

Courses in Leeds

Artforms: A music and arts service that run musical instrument, singing and ensemble classes for all ages on Saturday mornings at venues across Leeds. Visit the Artforms website.

Cloth Cat: They run inclusive, practical and fun music courses, events and projects. Examples of courses include electronic production, guitar, singing, songwriting, and sound engineering. Visit their website for more and Instagram to find out more.

Crossfader: A community and place to network for new and established DJs. Their online courses are designed to help you get more creative and get the most out of your equipment – visit the website to find out more.

DJ School UK: Based in Leeds they provide private DJ and music production tuition, and run projects and workshops. Visit DJ School UK’s website and Instagram.

Higher Rhythm: Based in Doncaster, they run recording studios, a radio station, courses (including national and higher national diplomas), artist development programs, a record label, digital music distribution, events, business support, and volunteering. Visit Higher Rhythm’s website.

Leeds Conservatoire: They run undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as events and concerts. Visit Leeds Conservatoire’s website.

Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Awards: The awards offer £1k to £5k to Musical Theatre students studying singing or musical direction at leading UK conservatoires, including Leeds Conservatoire. The support is for final-year undergraduates or postgraduate students. Visit the Help Musicians website to find out more.

MAP Charity (Music & Arts Production):  Based in Leeds, this music and arts charity works with 11-16 year olds unable to access mainstream education. They run BTEC qualifications in Creative Media and Art & Design. Visit Map on Instagram and Linktree.

Melodies DJ Academy: Based in Leeds, DJ Miss Melodie founded the Academy to encourage more females to enter DJing. The Academy now hosts events, showcases, and courses for everyone at all levels. Visit Melodies DJ Academy on Facebook and Instagram.

Music Lab: Based in Leeds, they provide tuition in piano, guitar, drums, saxophone, singing and more. Visit Music Lab’s website.

Sybil Tutton Opera Awards: The awards offer £1k to £5k to students at leading UK conservatoires, including Leeds Conservatoire, for postgraduate courses and living costs. Visit the Help Musicians UK website to find out more.

UK Music Apprenticeships: Their apprenticeship scheme aims to help music employers hire passionate apprentices and get talented people into paid music jobs. It offers a range of apprenticeships in areas like live events, promotion, creative and digital media, as well as IT, finance, and administration. Visit UK Music’s website.

Performing / Promoters in Leeds

360 Club Leeds: Showcases the finest emerging live acts in Yorkshire, playing host to different genres and styles every week. Visit the 360 Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Black Music Festival: Europe’s biggest, free and annual open-air concert at Potternewton Park (formerly known as Leeds Reggae concert). Visit Black Music Festival on Instagram and Facebook.

Brudenell Social Club: Based in Hyde Park, the club is a destination for both emerging and established musicians. It serves as a community hub for DIY promoters and local artists / bands, providing them with a platform for self-promotion alongside major gigs. Visit Brudenell Social Club’s website and Instagram.

Clue Records: An independent DIY record label, podcaster, and promoter dedicated to helping and supporting bands they love. Visit the Clue Records website to submit your music for consideration and find them on Instagram.

Futuresound Group: A diverse music and events company with over 20 years in the industry, they offer gig slots for local artists across Yorkshire. Artists creating original music who perform live can submit their work on Futuresound’s website. Payment is offered for all performances, the amount varies per show. Visit Futuresound on Instagram.

Gold Sounds Festival: The festival takes place annually in April at the Brudenell Social Club. New alternative music is showcased across two stages, over two days. Visit Gold Sounds Festival on Facebook and Instagram.

HiFi Club: Home to a range of DJ led and live music nights hosting a variety of genres including Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, Motown, Reggae and Disco. Visit HiFi Club’s website and Instagram.

Leeds Festival: The festival happens every August. If you’re not performing, you can still get involved. Visit Leeds Festival’s website where you can also find out about volunteering, photography or campsite DJ roles.

Leeds West Indian Carnival: Europe’s longest-running authentic Caribbean carnival parade is held every August Bank Holiday weekend. Enjoy stunning costumes, infectious rhythms, delicious food, and vibrant Caribbean culture. Non-performers can get involved through volunteering opportunities on the Leeds West Indian Carnival’s website or Instagram.

Live at Leeds: A music festival held annually across a variety of venues, showcasing the best new emerging artists alongside established acts from around the world. To apply to play, visit Live at Leeds on Linktree and Instagram.

Seven Arts: An independent arts space in Chapel Allerton. Small but versatile, it provides a hundred-seat venue for film, theatre, dance, music, words and comedy. Visit Seven Arts website and Instagram.

Super Friendz: The promotion team behind events at Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall, This Must Be The Place and World Island festivals. Visit Super Friendz website and Instagram.

Wharf Chambers: A bar and multi-use venue providing an inclusive and affordable space for music, art, film, politics and discussion. Visit Wharf Chambers website and Instagram.

Releasing / Airplay / Getting Paid

Amazing Radio: A media business focused on helping new and emerging musicians get discovered. The station plays various genres including pop, rock, indie, hip hop, electronica and jazz. Visit Amazing Radio’s website to create a free account and upload a track and video link. 

AWAL: A record label offering deal structures that provide artists the resources and expertise of a global label while allowing them to retain ownership and control of their music. They provide digital distribution across over 200 territories. Visit AWAL’s website where you can find out what they look for in artists and submit your music.

Bandcamp: Bandcamp is an online record store and global music community where artists can sell self-releases and merchandise directly to fans, keeping around 80% of the profits. Unlike other platforms, it doesn’t distribute music to other online stores. A special feature allows adding a ‘buy now’ Bandcamp link to your SoundCloud. Visit Bandcamp’s website.

BBC Music Introducing (Yorkshire): Tune into Emily Pilbeam and Christian Carlisle sharing the best under-the-radar local musical talent from Leeds and Sheffield. Visit BBC Music’s website to listen to previous episodes, or upload your track and get yourself heard on radio! You can also visit them on Instagram and find out about artists they have supported.

Brace Yourself: London based independent music PR specialists in radio, print, online & brands. Visit Brace Yourselves website and Instagram.

CD Baby: Make your music available on online platforms including Spotify, Apple, TikTok, Amazon, Pandora, YouTube, Shazam and Deezer, all for a one-time setup fee. Visit CD Baby’s website.

Come Play With Me:  Based in Leeds they run the label Come Play With Me Records, releasing vinyl from exciting Yorkshire artists — find them on Instagram or visit Come Play With Me’s website.

Ditto: Release to the biggest online platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Amazon, Deezer, Instagram, and Tidal whilst keeping 100% of your royalties. Visit Ditto’s website.

For the Lost: A West Yorkshire music PR company run by Simon Glacken. Visit the For the Lost’s website.

Hanglands: A Leeds-based communications and events agency specializing in bespoke digital, print, PR, marketing, and social campaigns. They cater to music, festivals, food and drink, and cultural projects across the UK and beyond. Visit Hanglands website.

Hyde Park Book Club (HPBC): Independent record label based in Hyde Park, releasing the best in new music from jazz and beyond. Visit HPBC’s Bandcamp.

iMusician: Our mission is to support DIY musicians and independent record labels globally. We make it easy to sell, manage, protect, and monetize music. Distribute your music to platforms like Spotify, Apple and Deezer, and get YouTube Content ID to monetize your tracks from day one. Visit iMusician’s website.

LANDR: They offer mastering and global distribution in one place. For a yearly fee, release unlimited music and keep 100% of your streaming revenue from platforms like Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Tidal, Instagram, and TikTok. Your music stays live even if you cancel your subscription. A dashboard tracks your success and fan base, helping you make decisions like booking a tour if you have a large fan base in a certain area. Visit LANDR’s website.

Leeds Dance Community (LDC) Radio: A dance music radio station for West Yorkshire, broadcasting DAB in Leeds & Bradford and on 97.8FM across West Yorkshire. Visit LDC’s website.

Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS): They collect and distribute mechanical royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers when their works are copied or reproduced on various media. This includes when the works are downloaded, streamed, or synchronized into TV programs. Consider joining MCPS on their website if your works are used this way.

NTS Radio: A global radio platform live 24/7, broadcasting music from over 50 cities around the globe (including Manchester). Visit their Instagram and on Linktree you can submit a proposal to host a radio show.

One Beat PR: A London and Sheffield based independent music PR company. As well as specialising in online and print press, we also offer assistance in commissioning bio writers and recommending radio pluggers. Visit One Beat’s website.

PIAS: A corporation that specialises in independent music recording, licensing, distribution, sales, and marketing. In addition, their Artist and Label Services division has long standing relationships with some of the world’s finest independent labels. Visit the PIAS website.

PPL: The UK’s music licensing company for over 140,000 performers and recording rights holders. We license recorded music when it is broadcast on radio, TV and online. Visit PPL’s website.

PRS for Music: We collect and pay royalties when a PRS member’s music is played in public, broadcast, downloaded, streamed, or performed live either in the UK or around the world. Visit the PRS website.

Record Union: We provide a platform for independent artists to distribute their music to major digital services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, TIDAL, and more. Artists retain 100% ownership and control over their distribution and publishing rights. Visit Record Union’s website.

Released: A record shop and label in Leeds with music spanning electronic, soul, jazz, psychedelic, rockabilly and more. Most of their music comes from Leeds artists. Visit the Released website.

Released Radio: Number 1 on DAB underground dance music from the UK. Broadcasting to London Surrey Berkshire and Cambridge. Visit the Released website.

Resonance FM:  A 24/7 radio station broadcasting in London, nationally on Radioplayer, and live streamed globally. It features over 105 creative series weekly with local and international artists. Visit the Resonance website to pitch your show idea. Visit the Resonance website where you can also pitch your idea for a show.

Rinse FM: A London-based community radio station and record label playing garage, grime, dubstep, house, jungle and dance. Visit Rinse FM’s website.

Sable Studio: A creative platform made in Leeds. We run workshops, produce podcasts and curate programmes all from our studio on the edge of the city. Visit Sable’s website and Instagram.

Sentric Music:  A British independent music publisher for emerging songwriters and artists. They help you claim and collect royalties with ease, register your songs globally, track income, and process royalties. With a 28-day rolling contract, you receive 80% of the royalties. Visit Sentric’s website.

Songkick: A concert and festival discovery service owned by Warner Music Group allowing users to search for upcoming concert events in their area, and also track individual artists to receive notifications of upcoming shows in their area. Visit Songkick’s website.

Symphonic: They provide digital music distribution, monetization, rights management, music promotion, and playlisting for music creators. They deliver music from independent record labels and musicians to online retailers such as Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Napster, Deezer, Pandora, Amazon, and Beatport. Visit Symphonic’s website.

Tunecore: Get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, Tidal and Tencent. For an annual fee you can get unlimited releases and keep 100% of your royalties. The Release Tracker on Tunecore’s website provides great statistics to track how your releases are selling.

Talent Development Schemes / Funding

Leeds Cultural Investment Programme (LCIP): The programme replaces the arts@leeds and Leeds Inspired funding schemes. It builds on the strengths of these long-running programmes and offers both project (one-off) funding and revenue (ongoing) funding for creative individuals and organisations. Visit LCIP’s website.

Young Sounds UK: Their Awards Programme is for young musicians aged 17 and under from low-income families. It provides funding (e.g. for instruments, lessons, transport) and other support to help young musicians develop their musical potential. All genres are welcome, and deadlines are rolling. Visit the Young Sounds website.

Finzi Trust Grants: They provide grants ranging from £500 to £7K to musicians age under 25, and there are usually 2 deadlines per year. Grants can be used for commissioning, performance, promotion, festivals, recording and furthering musical education (excluding full time courses). Visit the Finzi Trust website.

Help Musicians UK: They offer funding and development opportunities for emerging artists. Visit their website to find out more, including advice on submitting applications.
– Support Your Studies Fund: Up to £5,000 for certain postgraduate or undergraduate studies, covering study and living costs.

– Next Level Awards: Up to £3,000 for career-changing opportunities like recording / releasing an album, touring, or long-term courses. The awards also provide business skills and networking support.

– Fast Track Awards: Up to £500 for short courses, equipment, new software, or opportunities to record, release, or perform, aimed at growing or sustaining music income or advancing careers.

Music Managers Forum (MMF) Accelerator Programme: The world’s only independent funding and professional development program for artist, songwriter, DJ, and producer managers. It offers 12-month grants of up to £12,000 and expert-led training. Visit MMF’s website.

Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust: The Trust supports young musicians at the start of their careers with particular projects such as attending masterclasses, travelling to auditions, making initial recordings, and commissioning new work. Visit the Nicholas Boas website.

PPL Momentum Accelerator Fund: The fund supports outstanding artists and bands outside London at crucial career points, and provides support for future industry professionals like managers, promoters, labels, publishers and agents. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects by songwriters, artists, bands, and performers in Yorkshire and Liverpool. Funds can be used for recording, release, performance / touring, marketing, collaboration, training, and more. Visit PRS Foundation’s website to find out more.

PRS Foundation’s Composers’ Fund: This fund offers £8k – £10k to composers with a strong track record at pivotal career stages, supporting up to 15 composers annually. It aims to enhance their cultural impact in the UK and abroad. Eligible projects include recordings, promotion, international collaborations, residencies, and childcare costs. Visit the PRS Foundation website for more information. Visit the PRS Foundation website.

PRS Foundation – Open Fund for Music Creators. The fund supports songwriters and composers of all genres and career stages with grants up to £5k. It aids projects by songwriters, composers, or artists, bands, producers and performers who are writing their own music or commissioning others. It covers costs such as new music creation, music creator fees, touring and live performances, recording and release, creative residencies, fees for collaborators, and promotion and marketing with creation or performance elements. Visit PRS Foundation’s website.

PRS Foundation – Women Make Music Fund. The fund offers up to £5k to support outstanding women, trans, and non-binary songwriters and composers across all genres and career stages. It funds projects involving music creation, creator fees, touring, recording, residencies, fees for collaborators, and promotion. The fund encourages first-time applicants, aiming to support those who may not typically seek funding opportunities. Visit PRS Foundation’s website.

Richard Antwi Scholarship: The scholarship is awarded in conjunction with the Music Business Management MA at the University of Westminster in London. It supports Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic individuals in the music business, in collaboration with major UK record labels, music publishers, and independent music firms. It combines academic research in music industries with real-world music business practice. Visit the Richard Antwi website for more details.

RPS (Royal Philharmonic Society) Composers Programme: The programme offers a £2k commission annually for promising composers, performed by noted ensembles, venues, and festivals. It equips composers with skills, confidence, workshops with industry leaders, and personalized guidance through year-long sessions to advance composers’ careers. Visit the RPS website.

RPS (Royal Philharmonic Society) Composing for Dance – Drummond Fund: The fund offers grants up to £25,000 to support UK-based professional dance artists, choreographers, companies, festivals, or venues in commissioning new music involving live musicians or singers. Composers can also apply with performance plans. The grant can cover composer fees, research and development, hiring musicians, staging performances, or digital capture. Applications should outline project costs and funding sources. Visit the RPS website.

Royal Society of Musicians: Britain’s oldest music charity provides financial aid, advice, and guidance to music professionals unable to work due to accident, illness, stress, or anxiety. If you or a musician you know is struggling, contact us confidentially for help with living expenses, rehabilitation, counselling, referrals, or financial advice. Visit the Royal Society of Musicians website.

Stephen Oliver Award: Up to £5,000 is awarded biennially to a young composer who has written a work for Music Theatre, to assist with the cost of bringing that work to performance. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that a performance is in prospect. Visit the Munster Trust website.

Youth Music NextGen Fund: The fund offers grants up to £2,500 to young creatives (aged 18-25, or under 30 if disabled) to launch music projects (e.g. a single, EP or towards an album campaign) businesses, or platforms supporting underrepresented voices. It covers creative projects, career development, marketing, equipment / software, and business costs. This fund supports emerging musicians and behind-the-scenes creatives, especially those new to funding. Visit the website to apply and sign up to the free online Get Set Sessions where you can find out more about their funding.