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Tailored to the needs of talented young songwriters, the ‘Ad Lib.’ club demystifies how the music industry works, looks at latest trends and provides a much needed springboard to get the best start.
It’s a perfect opportunity to advance your knowledge of the dynamics of the music industry and engage with some of the leaders in the industry, as well as collaborate with your peers. Plus, it looks fantastic on your CV!
Sessions are on Wednesdays at 6pm to 6:45pm (UK time), the first and third week of each month, via Zoom. The first session is a masterclass with a leading figure in the music industry, the second session is a mentoring session where Ad Lib. members put into practice what they’ve learn in the masterclass. All sessions are recorded and can be viewed afterwards. You can join at any time.
Our VIP guest speakers have included Fraser T Smith, Luke Williams (artist manager at Closer Artists), Gareth Mellor (VP Global Marketing at Downtown Music), Emily Phillips, Kenny Barber at PRS for Music, Dani Sawyerr (Director of A&R at Universal Music Publishing), Jodie Bryant & Clare Dove.
Some of the questions we’ll answer are: What are the roles in the music industry and how do they work together? What are the multiple ways songwriters generate revenue? How do I create a unique creative identity/brand and engage my audience? How do I stand out? How do I build my fanbase? What are the latest trends for getting the most impact out of social media? How do I copyright my music? When do I need a manager? Is getting a record deal the priority? When do I need to invest in recording/producing my music to a higher quality? How can I get work experience in the music industry? How do I find like-minded peers to collaborate with and support each other on our musical journeys? What should I be focusing on now?
Testimonials from Ad Lib. members
“Defo sign up – the mentors you are able to speak to is such a great opportunity for young signer songwriters aspiring to have a career in the music industry.” Freddie, 16
“Do it. It’s amazing. You learn so much!!” Madi, 17
“Being an Ad Lib.member is an incredible experience. You get to meet other young talented songwriters and explore the industry as a whole concept further than I ever imagined.” Joseph, 13
“I would say so many things I didn’t know about the industry I have now learnt from Ad Lib, and also I’ve come away with some friends!” Tamara, 17
If you are a talented songwriter aged 13-18 and want to take your musical journey to the next level, we’d love to hear from you. Ad Lib membership will give you an accessible opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the music industry & maximise your opportunities.
You can join at any time. Membership is by invitation or successful application only. Express your interest in joining ‘Ad Lib.’ by completing the application form below. Then we’ll get in touch with you shortly.
Please note, the Ad Lib. programme is distinct from the Song Academy weekly songwriting clubs programme (open to all young people with programmes tailored to age groups and level of songwriting experience) having a focus on developing members’ songwriting skills in small groups with termly live/online gigs to friends and family. Many young songwriters will be interested in being members of both ‘Ad Lib’ and our weekly songwriting programmes.
‘AD LIB’ membership is by invitation and successful application only. Members must be considered talented songwriters by Song Academy. All co-writing initiatives will be with songwriters of the same age.
There are two membership options which aim to be accessible for all:
Monthly Ad Lib. membership fee of £25 per month (under £6 per week), or
Annual Ad Lib. membership fee of £270 per year (£22.50 per month)