Ran by our Creative Director, The Music Department has undergone different changes and guises through its sub brands since 2004.

Over that time we have developed from a live music agency working nationwide with Marstons, Inventive Leisure and Laurel Pub Company, onto a live music promotion company promoting shows across the 580 LTD chain of bars, Camden Bars, Mitchell & Butlers, onto a Festival production company, hosting the outside:inside Festival, and sitting on the AIF board working alongside Bestival, Stanton Calling, Creamfields, WOMAD, Shambala, Readipop, Futures World, Reading Fringe Festival, through to a Music consultancy, working with Antic London and Purple Turtle venue, all the times offering Web Design, Creative Design, Marketing expertise and playlist support and world class programming.

We have worked alongside music institutions from Sony Music, helping them with viral marketing and generating buz at the Reading Festival, and the BBC Music introducing since its inception in 2007, helping develop their brand and optimise opportunities for rising music artists.

Now we are moving on further and following in what our name has always suggested, and putting all this knowledge, into bite sized learning nuggets to future proof music, music production, music promotion and all other music industry roles for the future.

The Coronavirus pandemic decimated many music businesses, including this very business. It is still having a devastating impact after all these years, but now it is in silence. The entire ecosystem crashed, as many were not afforded the same support as the furloughed, with the majority working as freelances, their hybrid working left them out, and they, like us, left the industry. 

This has left gaping holes in the ecosystem of UK Music, coupled with fast and big rising costs and with many typical regular gig goers feeling the pinch currently means the industry is very precarious indeed. 

BUT! It is not all lost. Whilst it is down, it is a time to regroup, train and inspire and work much more with the next generation. Times change, and with this trends change. We are, if you like back at year 1. Which while devastating, it can allow us to look at this as a chance to reinvigorate the music industry with new, innovative projects, and helping the next generation inspire and lead this change.

So we are here. Back as The Music Department, but with a new direction – enhancing youth music learning programmes, with real professional industry insights, training and fun! Inspiration has to be fun! 

We now hold DBS certificates instead of alcohol licenses, we’ve honed out teaching skills, and have carefully developed a series of innovative teaching programmes, aimed too inspire the youth, build real industry skills, create music socials with their friends and family, and get out there and have fun with music! Its great!!

Jack Hepplewhite, Director – The Music Department.