How the Music Managers Forum is developing industry leaders with support from PPL Giving
For over 30 years, the Music Managers Forum has supported UK managers. Here's how PPL is helping to back the next generation.
A strong music industry needs strong managers. They help artists build careers, secure opportunities and navigate the intricacies of the business. Without them, many performers would struggle to get the recognition and income they deserve.
The Music Managers Forum (MMF) is the largest professional community for music managers in the world. With more than 1,500 members in the UK and a global network of over 2,700, the MMF supports managers at all stages of their careers. It provides training, advocacy and a platform for sharing knowledge.
PPL has worked with the MMF in various ways over the years from sponsorships to educational initiatives. Over the past year, we’ve backed two initiatives focused on developing music management professionals through PPL Giving, our £1 million annual programme supporting the music community: MMF’s Accelerator Programme and Manager Retreat.
MMF Accelerator: Building skills and networks
The MMF Accelerator Programme is a year-long professional development scheme for up-and-coming artist, songwriter, DJ and producer managers. It provides training on business planning, finance, marketing, copyright and royalties. Sessions are delivered in partnership with industry experts including accountants, digital marketing specialists and A&R professionals.
The programme is designed for managers across the UK working with artists at a tipping point in their careers. It has already supported more than 135 managers since its launch in 2019, with past participants representing artists across jazz, dance, classical and pop.
MMF Accelerator Class of 2024 with MMF team and supporters, including PPL’s CEO Peter Leathem OBE.
The aim of Accelerator is to build greater commercial sustainability. Reports by the MMF show that a majority of independent music managers continue to tackle significant financial and structural challenges. Many face employment insecurity and often spend years developing the careers of their clients, taking on a range of responsibilities without the benefit of a safety net.
PPL’s involvement in 2024 included hosting an in-person networking session, an online masterclass and one-on-one sessions with managers to support their journeys. The aim is to give managers a clearer understanding of royalties and licensing, helping them generate more income for the artists they represent.
On the importance of the MMF Accelerator, Jackie Davidson MBE, founder and director of JD Management and a PPL Performer Director, said: “As an MMF Custodian and longtime manager I know how important and tough it is for new music managers to build sustainable businesses for their clients and in turn for themselves. The MMF’s groundbreaking Accelerator Programme… directly benefits not just the managers but the artists, producers and musicians they work with, who have included such talents as Joy Crookes, Shygirl, PinkPantheress, Dry Cleaning, Ren, Wes Nelson, Bimini, Caskets, Joy Anonymous, ENNY and Nippa.
“As a Performer Director of PPL, I’m hugely proud that PPL Giving is able to support this essential programme alongside YouTube Music, Arts Council England and the Scottish Music Industry Association.”
Applications for this year’s Accelerator Programme are now open – the deadline is 3 March 2025. For more information visit the MMF’s website.
The MMF Manager Retreat: Stepping back to move forward
Music managers rarely get time to pause and reflect. The MMF Manager Retreat, held in January 2025, gave them that space. The event brought together managers from across the UK for two days of workshops, discussions and professional development.
Topics covered in the retreat included leadership and negotiation skills, financial planning and investment, mental health and wellbeing, and building better relationships with artists and industry partners.
Laurence Oxenbury, PPL’s Director of International, was among the speakers. He emphasised the value of professional development in the industry. “The MMF retreat is a unique opportunity for PPL to share information, knowledge and strategies about our business. It was also a chance to receive feedback from colleagues in the sector and build relationships in a close-knit environment. I came away from the retreat with a shared sense of purpose, collaboration, and the need to keep strengthening support for managers and the artists they represent.”
Music managers are often behind the scenes, but their role is essential. They help shape careers, negotiate deals, and bring music to audiences. Supporting their development benefits the entire music community.
Paul Bonham, MMF’s Professional Development Manager, said: “Making time for oneself is possibly the hardest thing for a manager spinning multiple plates. We have realised the importance of creating opportunities for music managers to get together and make time to get under the skin of their business needs, personal ambitions and drives.”
PPL’s partnership with the MMF is part of its wider work to support music creators and the professionals who represent them. By supporting organisations like the MMF, we’re helping to strengthen the infrastructure that allows artists to build lasting careers.
For more information on how PPL Giving supports organisations like Moving on Music, visit our PPL Giving page.