Youth Music and Music Ally have joined forces to bring you the Music Ally Creative Entrepreneurship Programme - a certified remote learning programme for DIY artists and aspiring industry professionals to develop their understanding of the music business.
Applications have now closed.
Learners who progress to the more advanced modules will have the opportunity to work with a music industry mentor. Read more about them below.
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Gregor Pryor
Co-chair of Reed Smith’s global Entertainment and Media Industry Group
Gregor is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading lawyers in digital media.
“Having worked for many years in the sharp end of the music industry, I’ve had the opportunity to see the rise and success of some incredible individuals; both on the creative and commercial side of the business."
"The beauty of being involved in the business of music is that it is increasingly accessible, open and inclusive, particularly for those with desire, work ethic and hustle as well as artful talent.
"Musically has consistently been at the centre of what’s happening in the music business; founded by highly credible people who have a global perspective and a deep knowledge of how the industry works. I would recommend that anybody who wants to learn should get involved.”
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Celina Rollon
Artist Manager / Tour Manager
With 23 years music industry experience, Celina Rollon Is a former Radio Producer for the Galaxy Network and Marketing Manager for Sony Music Entertainment.
Celina Rollon has coordinated and managed the releases from Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, John Legend and Taio Cruz plus provided first class tour logistics on global sold out tours for FKJ, Bishop Briggs, Paloma Faith and The X Factor.
Celina currently resides in LA where she’s representing hotly anticipated Singer/songwriter Ben Wylen.
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Hisham Dahud (aka Rizik)
Artist Professional
Hisham Dahud is the modern embodiment of ‘Artist Professional’—possessing a true 360-degree view of today's music landscape. A lifelong musician, he is active today under the artist alias Rizik while also helping guide and mentor developing talent with his ArtistPro program. This all stems from over a decade working as an accomplished digital marketer, most notably having helped launch the digital marketing agency FAME HOUSE (Eminem, Alicia Keys, Tiësto and more) and exiting shortly after Universal Music Group acquired the company in 2016. He resides in Los Angeles.
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Laura Bettinson aka Femme/lau.ra/one third of Ultraísta
Producer, DJ and vocalist
From forging paths in avant-pop and now turning her hand to wonky dance floor heaters, according to Billboard Dance "this is what the future sounds like."
lau.ra is the new project from producer, DJ and vocalist Laura Bettinson. Hailing from the Midlands but residing in London, Bettinson has forged a successful career as independent alt-pop artist FEMME since 2013, and 1/3rd of Ultraísta with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Now Bettinson turns her attention to electronic music, dancing deeper into her role as producer and DJ however she still shines brightly as a vocalist in dance music most recently on her work with ODESZA and Golden Features on their 2020 BRONSON single ‘Heart Attack’.
“We need to help equip emerging talent from all backgrounds with the skills and entrepreneurial spirit to navigate this ever changing and challenging industry. A successful music industry is a diverse industry.”
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Troy Carter
Founder and CEO of Q&A
Troy Carter is Founder and CEO of Q&A, a music & technology company focused on building integrated solutions for artists via distribution, management, label services, and data analytics with an artist-driven approach.
Formerly, Troy was founder/CEO of Atom Factory. Most recently served as Spotify’s Global Head of Creator Services, overseeing relationships with artists, producers, songwriters and labels. In 2017, Troy was named Entertainment Advisor to the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson.
Troy rose to prominence in the music industry, nurturing the career of hip-hop sensation Eve before transforming Lady Gaga into a global pop phenomenon. Since then he’s managed the careers of John Legend, Lindsey Stirling, Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth. His foray into the tech world resulted in the formation of Atom Factory’s angel fund and VC fund Cross Culture Ventures. Early-stage investments include Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Warby Parker, theSkimm, MOAT, Gimlet Media, Thrive Market, and ATTN.
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GENIUS
Musician, management, Label
Jamaican born & Atlanta raised Disc Jockey, Genius, is blurring the lines between musician, management, & Label. Over the past few years, Genius has evolved as one of the elite music curators in the Atlanta Hip Hop scene; helping break major artists such as 2 Chainz, Migos, & business partner, K Camp.
In the last five years, the once “underground” club music of East Atlanta has exploded into worldwide consciousness, from acts like Gucci Mane, Future, K-Camp, Migos, and Young Thug, in many cases, it was the hands of “Dj Genius” literally at the controls.
Today GENIUS is currently the CEO of Mixtape Monopoly, an Urban Digital Distribution, Marketing, & Management firm, and Operations Manager at RARE Sound, an indie Hip-Hop Label in Atlanta. While serving in these roles, GENIUS has also managed to build a music career by independently distributing his own musical work, which has acquired millions of streams and views.