The Royal Northern College of Music Announces Live Showcase In Collaboration With Sony Music Social Justice Fund

14 February 2024 - Press release

The Royal Northern College of Music today announces its first Live Music Showcase in partnership with Sony Music UK’s Social Justice Fund, taking place at Sony’s London headquarters on March 13th. 

The Royal Northern College of Music will be celebrating the talents of its students across two flagship programmes: the Young Artists project that nurtures talent from ages 11-18, and the Popular Music undergraduate course. Both programmes are continually reinvented to respond to the ever-changing, dynamic music industry – training and nurturing all students to be modern musicians equipped for sustainable careers. 

The Royal Northern College of Music’s first artist showcase will see performances from pianist, singer-songwriter and 2023 ‘CASIO Sessions’ winner May Payne; soul and jazz singer-songwriter Daisy Cameron; three-piece alt-pop band and founders of Manchester’s ‘RedRoom’ event Sister Grace; innovative pop musician Nadeem Shakir, and more. 

Andy Stott, Head of Popular Music says “The BMus Popular Music degree at the RNCM is unique. It is the UK's only four-year Popular Music degree based in a world-class conservatoire and is the premier training programme for students who wish to become original artists, freelance musicians, and music industry professionals. Our programme focuses on Artist Development, teaching the essential skills of performance, composition and production, and we empower students to be ambitious and imaginative with no boundaries to their creativity.” 

Popular Music Undergraduate May Payne says: “The music industry can feel so nebulous and impossible to navigate, and I feel very lucky to have been given support in finding my footing and building the foundations of my career whilst studying at the RNCM. I have been able to form my band and tour around the country together, release multiple music projects, and build my fanbase as an independent artist. To be given the time and space to do this within a course that is designed to support you as you pursue your ambitions is really special.” 

Since its inception in 1973, The Royal Northern College of Music has been home to a cohort of talent, including Porij (BBC 6 Music A-listed, supported Coldplay on their stadium tour); Olivia (Liv) Thompson (bass/keys player for Raye, Little Mix, Zara Larsson, Becky Hill and more); Bonnie Kemplay (named UK’s top emerging artist by BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, supported The 1975 on UK arena tour), and many others. Recent Honorary members and Fellows of the Royal Northern College of Music include: Nile Rodgers (Honorary Professorship - ‘a great highlight of my life’), Tim Burgess (Fellow), YolanDa Brown OBE DL (Fellow), Barry Manilow (Fellow), and Peter Waterman (Fellow). 

The 2024 showcase is being held in partnership with Sony Music UK’s Social Justice Fund, which has been the inaugural sponsor of the award-winning Young Artist project at the Royal Northern College of Music, helping to fund young people’s participation. Created in June 2020 as a commitment to supporting communities, broadening opportunities for individuals in under-served communities, and improving education, skills, and life chances, the Social Justice Fund helps to address structural inequality for lasting change. The Sony-funded places are 50 percent Black British and participants champion a range of genres including pop, neo-soul, jazz and RnB. 

Charlotte Edgeworth, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact at Sony Music UK says,

“We are so proud to host this event and showcase RNCM Young Artists – a project supported through Sony Music UK’s Social Justice Fund. It aligns with our passion to support racially inclusive initiatives and educational opportunities in under-served communities. It has been incredible to see this next generation of musicians and songwriters from Manchester thrive and grow through their music making. We’re especially proud that our funding ensures half the places are completely free and the remaining highly subsidised for participants.”  

After being named the UK’s creative capital in 2023, Manchester remains at the centre of the decentralisation of the UK music business and its future. The Royal Northern College of Music provides a gateway for developing artists, nurturing talent, and championing diversity for British music in the North. 

The Royal Northern College of Music supports creatives through performance, composition and teaching informed by research. Through its Young Artists and Pop programmes, the college nurtures talent from the age of 11 upwards, educating and training musicians to the highest standards in an enriching, career-focused environment.