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A new programme, run by the University Of Sunderland in partnership with the Northern Academy of Music Education, will aim to nurture, develop, and produce the music artists of the future
A pioneering music programme which will nurture, develop, and produce the music artists of the future is set to launch at the University of Sunderland. The Modern Music Industries programme will be run in partnership with the Northern Academy of Music Education (NAME) made up of Barry Hyde (The Futureheads) and Dan Donnelly (Celtic Social Club, The Wonder Stuff and The Levellers) who both took over the lease of Sunderland’s The Peacock pub last year. It’s a course led by musicians, for musicians and aims to fully equip students for life in an industry that has undergone a radical transformation during the past 20 years as Barry Hyde explains:
“You used to have to go to a recording studio, a recording studio you would have to pay thousands of pounds to hire for the hour, day or week.
“Today, we live in a time where music technology dictates, and people have direct access to that technology. You can make an album in your bedroom – the ability is there; in many ways now is a great time to be a music artist.”
Students will be partly based in Birdland Studios, located in renovated rooms above The Peacock, while the academic side will take place in rooms at the nearby Fire Station venue. It’s a course which aims “to make a creative explosion” and achieve greater career longevity.
Barry Adds, “There is undoubtedly a lot of luck involved in this industry, but you can make yourself more lucky. And this programme will equip you with that very ability.”
Professor Arabella Plouviez, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at Sunderland University believes that Sunderland’s strong music heritage will be of great benefit to those who enrol on the course, “Sunderland as a city, has a strong tradition in music and, like all the creative industries, it becomes even more important as part of how we move forward from the current challenges.
“This new programme that NAME is launching in collaboration with our faculty is a really exciting opportunity for musicians to learn about the contemporary music industry, develop their own creative voice within that, and draw upon the vibrant scene locally, regionally nationally and internationally.”
You can find out more about the Modern Music Industries programme here.
