The BPI, in partnership with business growth agency London & Partners, has confirmed a new edition of the Grow Music business support and investor school programme for 2025.
As part of Grow Music, 26 UK-based companies with music or music adjacent technologies at the heart of their product were selected to take part in 2024’s inaugural edition of the 12-week business support programme.
Designed by the BPI, Anthony David King and Abbey Road REDD, the programme was structured to grow and test their business and ideas, while providing access to the UK recorded and live music industry. Modules included making connections, routes to investment and understanding the music industry alongside in-person mentoring, networking and pitch events.
This programme brought together the leadership and expertise of BPI’s Innovation department, along with key delivery partners Anthony David King, Abbey Road REDD and Andy Ayim, to make space for a greater understanding of the power and value of music technology, as well as investment opportunities in technologies that are adjacent to the music industry.
The following companies graduated from Grow Music 2024: A Step FWD; Area Noir; Bandshare; CastRooms; Certi.Fi; CWorks; Everyone’s A Singer; Ellevate; Gigmate; Happaning; Hawkr; Neuron Wellness t/a Holidity; Hootenanny; Human Native AI; Kolt (previously Eckofide), Music Video Marketplace; Newnorm Ltd; RTSixty; Saarey; Setmixer; TenWest; Tickets for Good; Un:hurd; Viktrs; Volumetric Video.
So far, 20 new jobs have been created, nine companies have reported increases in revenue, and 21 companies have launched new products or services as a result of the programme. Following support and encouragement from the Grow Music team, cohort companies have reported being nominated for major industry awards, refining their investment pitches, and striking new strategic partnerships.
Following the programme, eight companies were selected to present at a Grow Music gala showcase on Tuesday (March 25) to an audience of music industry executives, press, investors and funders at Abbey Road Studios: CastRooms, Happaning, Hootenany, Human Native AI, Music Video Marketplace, Saarey Music, Viktrs and Un:hurd.
Alongside the business support programme, Grow Music delivered a bespoke online five-week Angel Investing School to develop and educate professionals from all backgrounds on the opportunities of investing at the intersection of music and technology.
The school was 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 REDD in mentorship.
Grow Music was launched out of BPI’s new insight & innovation department, which works with over 130 global start-ups and scale-ups who are interested in testing, piloting and bringing their ideas to the UK music industry.
The 2025 programme will run from summer through to autumn and will be open to companies who are trading or registered with a London address.Grow Music 2025 will feature leading industry experts from all aspects of the music industry and the tech & innovation space.
Technology has an incredible power to support and amplify human creativity, when harnessed correctly and responsibly
Dr Jo Twist
BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE said: “We were proud and honoured to be selected to deliver Grow Music, funded by London & Partners. Together with Abbey Road REDD, Measure of Music, UK Black Tech, Angel Investing School and Anthony David King, we have built something with real impact and potential. There have been some incredible outcomes already from the first cohort: a host of companies have developed entirely new products and services to directly support the music industry, while a number of new, full-time and permanent jobs have been created and protected.
“Technology has an incredible power to support and amplify human creativity, when harnessed correctly and responsibly. We look forward to continuing our work on Grow Music in 2025, and are excited for the new innovations, ideas and talent that will be supported in this year's programme."
BPI director of insight & innovation Leon Neville said: "It's been a joy to bring the worlds of music and technology together through the inaugural Grow Music business support programme and Angel Investing School, and to see so many impressive developments come out of the first cohort already. We are grateful to all of our partners for their support, to all of the participants for their dedication, and to the many mentors who provided their time and invaluable guidance.
“We're delighted to be working with a new cohort of exciting and innovative companies in 2025, and to be working with London & Partners and our delivery partners to help provide even more entrepreneurs with unparalleled access to the UK's dynamic music industry."
Janet Coyle CBE, MD of Grow London at London & Partners, said: “We are incredibly proud to be delivering Grow Music for a second time with BPI and Abbey Road REDD – a testament to the success of the programme and the incredible work our partners have done to make support London’s most innovative music technology entrepreneurs. London is a global centre for music, technology, and business growth. Grow Music was created in recognition of this and to provide the support needed for the next generation of music technology companies to thrive.”
Abbey Road managing director Sally Davies said: "Abbey Road has always been a home of innovation, with groundbreaking advancements that have changed the evolution of sound. Today, we continue that work through Abbey Road REDD, where we look to support innovation now and in the future. We are proud to partner with our friends at the BPI on the Grow Music project, highlighting the many brilliant founders who are bringing new possibilities to the artists we serve."
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