Music Organisations & Consultancy
Strong music communities don't happen by accident. They grow when artists, educators, venues, local authorities, cultural organisations and industry professionals work towards a shared vision. My role is to help make those connections happen, turning ideas into programmes and partnerships that create lasting value rather than one-off events.
Over the past two decades I've worked with councils, festivals, charities, universities and cultural organisations across the UK, helping them develop artist development programmes, strengthen industry relationships and create opportunities that have a genuine impact on musicians and local communities. Every organisation is different, so I don't arrive with a template. I spend time understanding your ambitions, your challenges and the people you're trying to reach before designing an approach that fits.
Strategy
Whether you're developing a new music programme, reviewing an existing initiative or looking at the bigger picture for your organisation, I can provide practical, independent advice informed by experience across education, artist management, local government and the wider music industry. The aim is always to create strategies that are realistic, collaborative and capable of delivering long-term results.
Programme Design
Successful programmes balance ambition with practical delivery. I've designed and supported projects ranging from artist development initiatives and showcase events to mentoring schemes, conferences and industry engagement programmes. My focus is on creating experiences that are valuable for participants, achievable for organisers and sustainable beyond their first year.
Artist Development Programmes
Supporting emerging artists has been the thread running through my entire career. I work with organisations to develop programmes that give musicians the knowledge, confidence and professional connections they need to progress. Whether that's mentoring, workshops, showcases or longer-term development initiatives, the emphasis is always on creating meaningful opportunities rather than simply delivering activity.
International Partnerships
Music has the power to build relationships far beyond geographical borders. Increasingly, my consultancy work focuses on international collaboration, helping organisations develop partnerships that connect artists, educators and industry professionals across different countries. Recent work has centred on strengthening cultural links between Manchester and Japan, creating opportunities for exchange, collaboration and long-term partnership rather than one-off international visits.
I have been fortunate enough to work alongside Damian across several projects. He is one of the biggest champions of emerging artists across Greater Manchester. He is also a well respected person that has an unwavering passion for music across the North West. As a music manager across a couple of Heavenly Recordings campaigns, he has an ear for discovering new talent and the ability to nurture artists as they start to navigate the wider industry early on in their careers. As a mentor across several revered education institutions he instills confidence in young artists, providing them with digestible 'next steps' and practical advice to better their practice. Damian is also a fantastic panel curator and host across industry events, excelling at creating at diverse line-ups.
Katherine Cantwell - Audience Development at Heavenly Recordings + Mentor across Arts Emergency and Launchpad Connect.
Industry Engagement
One of the biggest challenges for many organisations is accessing the right people at the right time. Throughout my career I've built relationships across record labels, publishers, managers, broadcasters, festivals, venues, local authorities and higher education. I help organisations use those networks to create opportunities that are credible, relevant and beneficial for everyone involved.
Selected Projects
Recent consultancy work has included leading artist development projects for the Greater Manchester Music Commission, designing programmes for the Royal Northern College of Music, developing the Manchester–Japan Resonant Lines cultural exchange, delivering Rochdale Music Mixers, supporting music initiatives with local authorities across Greater Manchester and advising festivals and education providers on artist development, employability and industry engagement. Whatever the scale of the project, my focus remains the same: bringing together the right people to create opportunities that continue long after the project itself has finished.
If you're planning a new initiative, looking to strengthen an existing programme or exploring how music can play a bigger role in your organisation or community, I'd love to hear about your ideas and explore how we could work together.
