News

MusicFutures, alongside the Music Department at the University of Liverpool, has provided students with valuable industry experience through a range of placement opportunities designed to bridge the gap between education and employment in the music sector.

The partnership, which ran throughout the past academic year, offered students the chance to gain hands-on experience through two placement pathways: the Year in Industry Programme and MA Work Experience Placements.

Through these initiatives, students have been able to apply their academic knowledge in professional environments, develop industry networks and build the practical skills needed to progress their careers in music.

Year In Industry – Building Careers Through Real-World Experience

The Year in Industry programme gives undergraduate students who have completed their final dissertation and exams, the opportunity to undertake an additional year of paid employment within the music industry.

For this year’s programme, seven placements were awarded with Liverpool City Region-based employers, including Adlib, Ditto Music and Sentric.

As the only course of its kind in the UK, with the paid placements positioned as an additional as opposed to sandwich year, the programme offers students a unique opportunity to develop professional skills, gain first-hand industry experience and build confidence while working alongside leading music organisations.

From live events and artist services to wider business operations, the placements allowed students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings while developing valuable networks and career experience.

For Isabella Morgan at Adlib and Connor Higgs at Ditto Music, the year became a defining part of their university journey, helping them grow both personally and professionally while preparing them for future careers in music.

Reflecting on their experiences, Isabella and Connor shared how their placements helped them develop new skills, gain confidence and better understand the opportunities available within the music industry.

Adlib placement student Isabella Morgan said:

“My Year in Industry placement has been a fun and informative part of my university experience! It has given me the opportunity to develop practical, real-world skills as well as a genuine understanding of how the live events industry operates day to day. During my year at Adlib, I’ve built confidence professionally and personally, improved my communication and problem-solving abilities, and developed a range of transferable skills that will benefit me throughout my career. I would highly recommend a Year in Industry to other students!”

Connor Higgs, who completed his placement at Ditto Music, added:

“I did a year in industry placement at Ditto Music after doing a Music and Technology BA undergraduate and I feel it has been a fantastic opportunity, both to experience life working within the music industry and to gain experience in a real-world setting that can be applied to further opportunities in the future. The music industry can feel like a fickle and difficult world to navigate, so the placement really helped instil me with confidence and optimism for the future! Overall, I would definitely recommend the opportunity to any students looking for a way to transition into life as a professional.”

MA Work Experience Placements – Connecting Students with the Music Business

Alongside the Year in Industry programme, students studying the MAs in Music Industry Studies and Music Management were offered shorter-term industry placements, allowing them to gain practical experience while developing insight into the day-to-day operations of music organisations.

As part of the placement experience, students presented their findings and reflections to their classmates, sharing the knowledge and experience gained throughout their time with industry partners.

Across two cohorts, a total of 31 placements were delivered with a wide range of employers across the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Participating organisations included Arts Bar, Bongos Bingo, Boot Music, FAE, Future Yard, MILAP, Nothin But The Music, OKQ, September Management, Sound City, Sentric Music, The People’s Orchestra, Un:Hurd and 24 Kitchen Street.

Employers highlighted the value of welcoming emerging talent into their organisations, with students bringing enthusiasm, creativity and fresh perspectives to their work.

Alok Nayak from MILAP said:

“Hosting a MusicFutures placement student has been a really positive experience for Milap. Preethi brought enthusiasm, curiosity and a strong interest in both the creative and strategic sides of the organisation, contributing across live events, archive development and digital ideas. Placements like this are valuable not only because students gain practical experience, but because they also bring fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking into the organisation.”

Alex Brees from Un:Hurd added:

“The students helped us launch our new label business, identifying, signing and launching new releases for talented independent artists. They were tapped into their relevant scenes, meaning they had a great eye and ear for new music! They used our tools to help them identify, contact and negotiate on deals for artists; they were diligent, smart and conscientious. We would do this again!”

Creating Pathways into Employment

The impact of the MusicFutures placement programme has extended beyond work experience, with several students progressing directly into employment opportunities as a result of their placements.

This year, four students secured job offers following their placement experiences this year. Three Year in Industry students moved into roles with their placement employers, with opportunities created at Adlib and Sentric, while two MA Industry Placement students have secured a full-time role at Sentric and part-time role with September Management.

MA Alumni José Luis Esquivel, now working in his full-time role at Sentric said:

“The placement at Sentric was my way into the UK music industry, not from the outside looking in, but from inside a company handling international rights every day. For anyone starting their career, and especially for someone arriving from abroad as I did, that kind of immersion in the workplace teaches you the industry faster than any classroom could.”

These outcomes demonstrate the value of industry-led learning and the importance of creating meaningful connections between students and employers. By providing opportunities for students to contribute to real projects, develop professional networks and showcase their skills, our placements are helping emerging talent take the next steps towards sustainable careers within the music industry.