Mathew Knowles Scholarship

In 2022 I closed a multi-year deal to bring iconic Black music executive Mathew Knowles into LCCM as a visiting lecturer and board member. We then launched a talent-based Scholarship competition in his name, awarding the winner a full-fee bursary up to 3 years. The deal made industry media news (Music Business Worldwide, Music Week) and Dr Knowles' subsequent visits to LCCM attracted national media and press attention which I coordinated with his team and other advisers – ITV News, BBC One Show, CNBC – with LCCM's Music Box venue and facility featured prominently throughout. The Scholarship was a resounding success in 2022 not only opening up opportunities and motivating young people to believe in a music career, but firming over 19 individuals from interested applicants to enrolled students, delivering over £175,000 in Year 1 gross revenue. The 2022 Scholarship Final featured guest judges platinum-selling songwriter Michael Kay (Pink!) and hotly-tipped Columbia Records/Sony Music UK A&R Lashawna Stewart; all hosted by me doing my best Dermot O'Leary impression!