Southbank Centre, Ninja Tune and Big Dada launch free education initiative for young music professionals

London’s Southbank Centre has launched a new free education initiative, Emerging Music Professionals, alongside independent labels Ninja Tune and Big Dada.

The free-to-access scheme has been set up for 18-24-year-olds who live in Lambeth, South London, and is supported by Lambeth Council’s ELEVATE Careers fund.

Its aim is to support people within the music industry who are from underrepresented backgrounds, and help develop a new generation of diverse producers, promoters and events programmers.

The programme is spread out across 10 months, and includes a week-long intensive foundational course, as well as eight monthly artist-led sessions. Those taking part in the course will be paid the London Living Wage, as well as expenses, and will receive support from artists, programmers and record label executives.

People will learn about A&R, marketing and promotion, record label structures and the live music industry, among other subjects. Following the course’s completion, participants will have the chance to collectively showcase their what they have learned, producing and promoting a digital-release compilation album through Ninja Tune, while a live music event will also take place at the Southbank Centre.

Mark Ball, artistic director at the Southbank Centre, said in a statement: “The Emerging Music Professionals programme will provide an incredible opportunity for young people who are looking to make their creative mark in the music industry but perhaps don’t see themselves represented in it.

“The expansive course, generously supported by ELEVATE, is testament to the incredible work of our Creative Learning and Contemporary Music Programming teams and, of course, the commitment to diversifying the talent pipeline by our industry partners, Ninja Tune and Big Dada.”

Applications are opens here, and will close at 5pm on 21st September.

Big Dada last year relaunched as a label focused on releasing music by Black, POC and minority ethnic artists.

In July, Southbank Centre announced that the likes of KMRU and Âme would be playing as part of the venue’s Purcell Sessions autumn programme.