The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has announced the first cohort of  managers to pass the organisation’s new Manager Certification Programme - including MMF Chair, Niamh Byrne, co-founder of Eleven Management, MMF Vice-Chair, Jill Hollywood, founder of Echo Beach Management, and MMF board directors Hide Whone (Theory Management), Kerry Harvey-Piper (Red Grape Music) and Ray Black (Craft Management). 

Launched in September 2025 and available to Pro Members of the MMF, the first-of-its-kind initiative has been developed with experts from Prager Metis, SRLV, BAND Advisory Group, CMU and Simkins LLP. 

As well as validating participants’ key industry knowledge, the overall aim of the programme is to both encourage professional development within the music management community and create a recognised benchmark that raises standards across the industry.

Importantly, the programme embeds guidelines from the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) to ensure ethical and professional standards, while those who pass the two-hour exam will gain certification for a period of three years. 

The first wave of certified managers is as follows:

• Alexandra Kelaiditi, Craft Management

• Ami Jay, AJM

• Chelsea Wood, Wood Management 

• Christopher Bellam, Underplay Music 

• Hide Whone, Theory Management

• Jill Hollywood, Echo Beach Management

• Kerry Harvey-Piper, Red Grape Music

• Niamh Bryne, Eleven Management

• Phil Jones, Tuesdays Artists & Media

• Pip Newby, Brigade Management 

• Sara Heyward, Nick Heyward / Haircut 100

• Suzi Cronin, Eleven Management 

• Raymond Black, Craft Management

The Manager Certification Programme has already won public backing from influential businesses and organisations across the UK music business - including the FAC, Beggars Group, AIM, the BPI, Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK

In order to support the programme, Warner Music UK has also committed to provide the non-recoupable cost of certification to the manager of any new artist signing a long-term artist deal with one its labels.

With the programme running every quarter,  the next opportunity for MMF PRO members to participate will be January 2026 - when they can gain access to the certification platform, learning materials and exam (which must be completed within a month). 

Members can express interest via the MMF website or by contacting Paul@themmf.net.  

Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum: 
“The MMF is really proud to reveal what we hope are the first in a long line of managers to have gained this landmark qualification. As well as demonstrating their own skills and knowledge, the participation of this initial group has been absolutely vital in building what we want to be an industry-recognised certification.
“We would also like to applaud the substantive gesture by Warner Music. Research commissioned by the MMF demonstrates that music managers contribute £714m to the wider UK music industry, and that the work undertaken by our members is highly valued across the full spectrum of our business. By supporting the MMF Certification Programme in this way, we believe we can foster even stronger relationships into the future.”

Niamh Byrne, Chair MMF: 
"It's been great to see this groundbreaking project develop from concept to launch, and I am proud to be among the first to hold the MMF certification. I cannot reiterate enough that this process is not a test of your individual management skills, but rather a demonstration of the professional standards and commercial competency required to act on behalf of our artists and the creative community. I strongly encourage all professional-level members of our community to embrace this opportunity.”

Ray Black, Craft Management
“Every day being a music manager involves a wide spectrum of strategy, problem solving and balancing competing priorities to deliver the best outcomes for clients and I’m proud that myself and my colleague Alex are among the first to gain MMF Certification. The platform offers a range of support material from industry professionals and gives essential real world information on the professional standards we need to expect in the challenging roles we hold."