FLOOR SIXX Music Academy - a project run by broadcaster Sian Anderson and grime mainstay Jason Black - launches TODAY for applicants aged 16-24. The academy's aim is to provide industry experience for 20 skilled students - giving future MCs, producers, presenters, PRs, journalists, photographers, events coordinators and DJs the confidence to succeed.
Anderson and Black are a pair of industry heavyweights, who founded FLOOR SIXX as a multidisciplinary creative agency, part of which incorporates a record label. Working with up-and-comers like Capo Lee, Jammz and Drifter, they have dropped one new track + a video every month via Vevo...and as luck would have it there's a new release from P Money and Darkness landing today and you can watch it below.
Looking to the future
FLOOR SIXX Music Academy is the next step in their creative evolution; taking proceeds from their commercial work and reinvesting it in future talent. Under the guidance of FLOOR SIXX's team, 20 lucky students - whose mentors will include A Dot (1Xtra), Rashid Kasirye (Link Up TV) Vicky Grout (Photography) Joseph Patterson & Hyperfrank (Complex)and P Money (artist) - will be encouraged to set goals, and then get expert coaching on how to achieve them.
There are courses for all disciplines, below is a brief rundown of what you can expect from the different courses.
Artist/Songwriter/Producer: You will produce/write and record a song with Red Bull Studios - with practical experience and tutorials at performing live, mixing and mastering music and software.
DJ: Tutored by DJ Melody Kane, this course will take you through the process of becoming a DJ. You will learn how to use/set up various styles of DJ equipment, plan mixes and beat match. Along the way you will meet professional DJ’s from BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra for additional mentoring and feedback.
Radio/TV Presenting: Tutored by Remel London, this course will take you through radio, tv and online broadcasting. You will visit different radio stations, record demo radio and tv shows and interview artists/FLOOR SIXX mentors on camera. Plus two students will go on to broadcast live on Reprezent Radio.
Photography: Tutored by Vicky Grout, you'll learn how to use different types of digital and film equipment. You'll also shadow professional shoots with Courtney Francis and learn lighting and editing techniques at a top london studio.
Videography: Tutored by VEVO, you will learn how to shoot/edit a music video, live session and live event. During this course you will also go behind the scenes at Link Up TV and Boiler Room, learning lighting techniques and editing.
Journalism: Tutored by Joseph Patterson and Hyperfrank (Complex UK), you will be taught how to write features and reviews, conduct interviews and deliver articles to a professional standard. Along the way you'll sit down with editors across top UK publications who will sub and edit your work, giving feedback on your final piece.
PR: Tutored by Sian Anderson, you will be taught exactly how to generate coverage for an event - working directly on the final FLOOR SIXX exhibition. You'll finds out how to host a press day, look after press on and show oversee live reviews post exhibition.
Events Coordinator: Tutored by Dean Attil of Stamina Parties, you'll be taken behind the scenes of various events to learn the ropes. In particular the work required to pull off a show for 2000 people. Along the way you'll learn how to book artists, schedule set times, deal with sound and lighting tech and oversee event marketing and PR. You will be responsible for making the end of year exhibition run smoothly...so no pressure!
When and where it's happening
The course will run every Thursday from August 10 until October 12 at Vevo's HQ in Kings Cross - while artist courses happen in tandem at Red Bull Studios in London Bridge. Over the course of the 10 weeks programme, students will work towards an final exhibition that showcases their hard work - and will take place on October 20 at Camden's Roundhouse for over 2000 people.
Of course, applicants who don't make it to the final 20 needn't miss out - as there'll be weekly workshops (on a first come-first served basis for up to 100 people) at Red Bull Studios. These sessions will cover a broad range of topics to inspire and inform, including: music distribution (Ditto Music); making money from your music (PRS + PPL); publishing (Bucks Music Group); and how to run an independent label (Butterz).
For your chance to be part of FLOOR SIXX Music Academy's exciting new course apply now.