Based in South East London, Urban Development play an integral role in the growth of urban music in the UK. Combining business acumen with an understanding of youth culture, they stand at the crossroads where the creativity of underground new music meets the music industry. Offering an unrivalled programme of professional development, entertainment, education and networking opportunities to hundreds of industry-minded hopefuls from across the capital and beyond.
Founded 17 years ago, Urban Development is unique amongst youth music charities through its pivotal role within British urban music, as well as the wider UK music industry. The organisation is committed to supporting 3 core areas: artists, aspiring music industry professionals and future music talent.
A growth strategy for scaling up its ongoing Talent Development Programme, backed by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence fund and a range of other funders such as Universal Music UK and BRIT Trust, has been running from 2016 and continues to 2018. With a successful track record to date, the programme focuses on under-served and disadvantaged young people to create a pipeline for talent development and a national youth music organisation.
Urban Development was founded by Pamela McCormick in 2001 and is an Arts Council England RFO/NPO. Urban Development’s work stands at the crossroads where the creativity of underground music meets the industry, combining business acumen with an understanding of youth culture. Through industry-led business/employment support programmes, career guidance, access to resources and showcasing, UD has supported thousands of participants, with core demographic of 14–25 year old BAME, to access and progress within the music industry.
The Urban Development Music Foundation (UDMF) was founded as a registered charity (number 1149090) in 2012, led by a board of trustees, chaired by Lord Adebowale CBE with songwriter Wayne Hector as patron. Operating in the country’s poorest and most diverse boroughs, the foundation’s aim is to establish a national accessible, structured and sustainable progression pathway in popular/urban music, to advance education, develop skills, improve opportunities and relieve unemployment.
Urban Development is located in London’s Tileyard, with three regional centres in Derby/Nottingham, Manchester and Bristol, working in partnership with Baby People, Brighter Sound and Bristol Plays Music respectively.
Multi-Track, Bristol’s into-industry portal, disrupts the norm by providing fresh learning opportunities for those hoping to develop a career within music. Through an innovative platform that connects aspiring creatives with industry professionals, Multi-Track leads an empowered community and supports the future pioneers of UK underground music in Bristol.
Multi-Track’s projects – powered by Bristol Music Trust and Urban Development – challenge convention by adopting a fresh approach to learning for those operating in the city’s underground scene.
Multi-Track are focussed on providing professional development opportunities which are both culturally relevant and representative of the multiple pathways into the industry. Through an innovative programme that connects aspiring creatives with current industry professionals, Multi-Track lead an empowered community and support the future pioneers of contemporary music in Bristol.
Multi-Track aims to demystify the music business so that anyone hoping to build a career within music can access the tools and knowledge they need to push for commercial success and keep our culture alive