Launched in partnership with London & Partners, Grow Music is a scale-up and growth programme for new technologies, innovations and ideas to support the music industry in collaboration with leading music industry partners

Titled Grow Music, the programme will position London as a hub of music technology, innovation and growth, bringing together the music industry and best-in-class innovation leaders. Programme partners include Anthony David King, Abbey Road Red, Angel Investing School, UK Black Tech, andMeasure of Music. Grow Music will receive £199,986 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to delivery its three interlinked programmes. 

As part of Grow Music, applications are now open for a 12-week business support programme for 25 London, East and South East-based SMEs who have a product, service or idea that could scale and add value to the music industry. Designed by Anthony David King and supported by Abbey Road Red in scouting, diligence and mentorship, the programme is designed to grow and test their business and ideas, providing unparalleled access to the beating heart of the UK recorded and live music industry.

 Modules will include making fruitful connections, routes to investment, understanding the music industry alongside in-person mentoring, networking and pitch events. The programme will be hybrid, with an opening Kick Off Weekend and closing Award Ceremony at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios. After the first cohort, information and resources from the programme will also be available on demand, allowing more companies outside of London and the UK to benefit. The programme will officially launch at Abbey Road Studios on 14 and 15 September 2024.

To register your interest in taking part, please email growmusic@bpi.co.uk.

Alongside this in its second stream, Grow Music will deliver a bespoke online five-week Angel Investing School to develop and educate experienced professionals from all backgrounds on the opportunities of investing at the intersection of music and technology. For the first time, the UK ecosystem will be directly supported through a specialist programme, introducing new angel investors ready to help shape the future of early-stage innovation in the music industry.

This free-to-attend online programme will teach participants about angel investing, and its role in the wider music and technology ecosystem. Modules will include how to find great entrepreneurs, conducting due diligence and investing economies. The school will be run by Angel Investing School creator, Andy Ayim MBE, who has trained over 600 new angel investors across over 30 countries including the US, Singapore, Nigeria and Moldova and supported by Abbey Road Red in mentorship.

Applications for Grow Music's Angel Investing School are now open for global applicants. Applications are welcome from individuals from a wide range of underrepresented backgrounds, with an interest and passion for music and the wider creative and entertainment industries.

The school will run across November 2024, online, on Wednesdays from 4-6pm GMT and is designed to fit around work and life commitments. For UK-based participants, there will be a Graduation Ceremony hosted at Abbey Road Studios in early 2025. Further details, including an in-depth course outline and the application form, can be found here or by emailinggrowmusic@bpi.co.uk. 

BPI and partners will also launch a brand new, white-labelled Investor Hub, granting early-stage companies access to both the music industry and investors who are expressly interested in the sector.

Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director of Grow London at London & Partners said: “In London the creative industries, technology and finance intersect more closely than anywhere else in the world – making it one of the best places to start a music technology company. The launch of Grow Music is incredibly exciting and the programme will be instrumental in supporting growing companies to make the most out of what London has to offer.”