This is more than just an awards ceremony; this is a community:
A collective of musicians that rally together to make things happen.
Welcome to the music revolution!
Our ambassadors help us make IT happen.
Individually, they are world-renowned artists, producers, songwriters, publishers, agents; the list goes on. Together, they are a powerful force, committed to making the Birmingham music scene thrive and creating the musical icons of the future.
We’ve created a kick-ass collective that want to empower, educate and inspire musicians. Just watch how the doors open when you join the music revolution.
Alex is the presenter of BBC Music Introducing in the West Midlands, a show that airs every Saturday night on BBC WM showcasing the finest in brand new music from the area. He joined the BBC in 2016 and has gone on to produce many Introducing programmes around the country and has his finger on the pulse for the best new talent around
Recently signed to SONY, Birmingham born, multi-talented artist, Dapz OTM is more than your average Grime MC. He has a philosophy towards his art that moves the listener and has gained him the respect of fans, artists and media alike. Dapz OTM has had a steady rise up the ranks in the urban UK music scene, featuring on BBC Radio 1xtra and Rinse FM. He’s also supported the likes of Kano and Skepta on tour before going on to selling out his first headline show at the O2 Academy Birmingham.
Mike is a UK based Producer, Musician and Engineer. Based in Warwickshire, he has travelled extensively to bring artists’ ideas to reality. From the dark, seedy days of the ‘Mickey Mouse Club’ for Disney, via Black Metal, Reggae and Classic Rock, to the inventors of Heavy Rock and Metal, Mike has achieved international success with a variety of Top Ten and Number One records. He works with the artist from an early age to ensure the songs and performances are in great shape before capturing them in the studio. Notable achievements include recording Black Sabbath’s ‘13’ resulting in Multiple International Number Ones and a Grammy. Producing and engineering Judas Priest’s ‘Redeemer of Souls’ and ‘Firepower’ respectively, the two highest charting records in their 40-year career, and co-producing the final record by the late Ronnie James Dio with his Sabbath bandmates 2009’s ‘The Devil You Know.’ Still topping off his many highlights is mixing the final show of Black Sabbath’s outstanding final world tour, ‘Black Sabbath – The End’ for album and cinema release, and working with producers and artists including Rick Rubin, Andy Sneap, Eddie Kramer, Kit Woolven, Tony Iommi, Jean Beauvoir, Ronnie James Dio, Jeff Beck, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Cradle of Filth, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, UB40, The Specials, Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord… Mike is particularly inspired by Andy Wallace, Bob Clearmountain, Quincy Jones, George Martin, Bruce Fairburn and Peter Gabriel, all musicians who, in their ‘main’ careers, have respected the needs and goals of the song and, in doing so, continually raised the bar for what we do.
Simon and Diamond Duggal are award winning record producers, songwriters and composers from Birmingham, UK.
Through their creation and artistic development of Apache Indian, fusing dancehall reggae and bhangra music, they are credited for pioneering a new identity for multicultural British youth.
The Birmingham born Indian brothers have produced and written multi-million selling records for a diverse range of international artists including: Shania Twain, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Maxi Priest, Erasure, Swami, Desmond Dekker, Luciano, Apache Indian, Aretha Daye, Raise, Dillinger, Errol Reid (China Black) and many more.
Simon and Diamond have compositions featured in Hollywood and Bollywood movies,TV dramas, video games, branding and advertisements worldwide.
Their work has achieved BAMA, SAMA and BAFTA awards as well as nominations for Grammy, BRIT, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize awards.
The brothers continue to produce and write and are currently relaunching their Record Label and Publishing Company - Sub Dub Music Ltd.
Birmingham born & bred, rapper Lady Sanity’s hard-hitting flows have earned her a string of accolades including GRM Daily’s ‘Get Rated’ (2017), Birmingham Music Awards’ ‘Best Solo Female’ (2018 and 2019), and Urban Music Awards’ ‘One To Watch’ (2018). After playing Glastonbury, BoomBap Festival, The Great Escape, MADE and Shardfest, and supporting Hip-Hop heavies KRS-one, Lowkey & Roxanne Shante, Sanity embarked on her first UK tour, culminating in a hometown sell-out. She also proudly represented Birmingham at the 2018 Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, and has the world at her feet.
Ace is the guitarist in UK rock phenomenon Skunk Anansie, formed in 1994. They went on to be one of the biggest rock bands in Britain and Europe throughout the ‘90s and ‘00s, selling over 6 million records and playing sold-out world tours. They still continue to tour today 25 years on, and successfully release new music through their own independent record label. Ace owns ‘The Ace Guitar Academy’ - his own group of part-time schools in Italy, teaching rock guitar to teenagers. Ace is also the Director of Creative Industry Development across all campuses at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM).
Sue is a renowned radio plugger who has worked for all the major record companies including Jive, Sony, Virgin and V2 with many of the biggest artists in the world. She now works freelance across radio and television at Plug and Play and helped Ditto Music build their radio offering as Head of Radio.
Antony was technical manager at the legendary Mayfair Recording Studios, working with many chart-topping artists including Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Amy Winehouse, U2, Kylie, Travis, Supergrass and songwriter, Guy Chambers. He went freelance in 2003 to develop studios for Coldplay and other artists. Now, he’s the Principal of BIMM Birmingham, and continues to write and develop unsigned artists. Antony is an asset to the city’s music landscape.
Industry veteran, friend to the stars, DJ and all-round top bloke. Birmingham-born John Saunderson has had an awesome career with global independent publisher Notting Hill Music, representing writers and pitching songs worldwide to major and independent labels.
Songwriter and producer, signed to TG-Management, Jonny has penned songs for UK X Factor winner Shayne Ward, Miss D (Number #1 in Portugal for six weeks) and Maria Lawson, amongst many others. Jonny has worked as a session musician for acts such as Don Henley (The Eagles) and All Saints, and he was a recording artist himself for thirteen years. Jonny is also the Creative Director of Birmingham-based pop production company The SongLab and Songwriting Course Leader and Lecturer at BIMM Brmingham.
Kieron Pepper is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer; previously performing and recording with the likes of: The Prodigy / Paul Hartnoll (Orbital) / Ginger Wildheart / Dead Kids and touring extensively across Russia in live improvised collaborations with EDM DJs. Currently performing and recording with Radiophonic Workshop and Sleeper. Kieron has a PGCertHE in Teaching and Learning and has worked in Music Education for 17 years, including a role as Head of Artist Development at the Academy of Contemporary Music.
Meldra is Managing Director of The Song Lab, based in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. She has worked in the music industry since the age of twelve, as an artist (she is a household name in her native Latvia), a session musician (for the likes of Rod Stewart, Cee Lo Green and more), and she is also a songwriter at TG Publishing (Denmark). At The Song Lab Meldra mentors up and coming artists through numerous artist development programs. She is also a songwriting tutor at BIMM Birmingham, and dedicated to helping aspiring artists to thrive.
Multi-instrumentalist, Musical Director and Producer, Iwan is a world-respected musician who has worked with the likes of Sister Sledge and The Pointer Sisters. He has been a member of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials for nearly twenty years and we are privileged that he has chosen Birmingham as his base. He has a world class recording facility in the Jewellery Quarter.
Rohit is a programmer, producer and musician deeply involved in the Birmingham music scene. Having helped form and direct student record label New Street Records, Rohit now works for THSH and Jazzlines helping to develop the next generation of musicians, artists and producers, as well as championing the best of Birmingham’s existing artists.
DJ Biggoss a self-certified “music fiend” who has been a firm fixture on the local DJ scene for over a decade. His career began as a Bassline producer but quickly he felt stifled. DJing became the perfect release for his creativity, and dancefloors the perfect playground for dropping bangers! Driven by audience reaction to his sets, he decided to focus his energy on pushing homegrown talent in UK Hip Hop, R&B & Grime. He is hellbent on being a Birmingham pioneer.
Biggoss continues to push the UK sound globally and DJs in Amsterdam, Atlanta & Cancun as well as all over the UK. He has toured with some of the countries biggest artists, including Lotto Boyzz, Mist and Dapz on the Map.
Biggoss is also super-connected in his genre, he’s a studio engineer, promoter, artist manager, and curator of his own ‘Producer Exchange’ – a bi-monthly event to introduce and encourage collaboration between producers and artists.
Jo started her career in music as an original member of pop girl band Atomic Kitten twenty years ago. Recording and publishing deals followed; she had a number 5 with Darude in 2001 and wrote songs for artists including Holly Valance and Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus. Since then she has extended her experience to radio, television and talent management.
Paul is an Artist Manager and business manager working predominantly for Birmingham Indie rock sensations ‘JAWS’. Originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Paul has been midlands based for over 30 years during which time he has held management positions in a number of fields including the Royal Air Force, IT and Service Delivery. A brilliant stage/tour manager, organiser and planner, Paul doesn’t mince his words and knows a good tune when he hears one!
Nik has been involved in the Birmingham music scene for the last 35 years as a performer, producer, promoter, DJ, educator and many other roles and guises.
Producing and performing electronic music with his long-term musical partner, Neil Harvey under the name PCM, they were one of the first Jungle/Drum & Bass artists to focus on performing live, improvised shows since the early 90’s. Remaining resolutely underground throughout the years, PCM have had many releases while their stunning live sets have gained rave reviews and seen them perform with artists as diverse as Hawkwind, Test Dept, Scorn and many others. Last year saw them celebrate their 30th anniversary and with new projects in the pipeline, they show no signs of stopping just yet. As well as performing with PCM, Nik is an occasional member of Bentley Rhythm Ace and the mysterious Brummie psyche band, Blackash.
In addition to this, Nik is also a well-respected DJ having performed worldwide including several European tours, festivals and residencies under his belt since the early 90’s.
Co-promoter of the legendary House of God which is currently in its 27th year and one of the longest running club nights in the UK, Nik has also promoted many other Birmingham club nights such as Circles, Grindhouse, Chaos and The Source as well as being involved in many festivals including Lunar Festival, Artsfest, Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul, Moseley Folk Festival and the Supersonic festival. He also was co-owner/editor of the now defunct free clubbing/nightlife newspaper, The Night Times.
He has worked in further and higher education for the last 18 years at South & City College Birmingham where he lectures in various music areas on Level 3 and the Foundation Degree & BA (Hons.) Popular Music franchised programs from Birmingham City University as well as being the Technical Manager for the Music & Media departments. He was also responsible for the design and project management of the recording studios, rehearsal spaces and the 600 capacity The Crossing venue (which he currently manages) at the colleges Digbeth campus.
Gavin is a UK music producer with multi-platinum, gold and silver production, engineering and writing credits.
Gavin is a multi-instrumentalist, he has produced International number one single and album releases, and was the proud recipient of two BMA awards in 2019.
He came up through the London big studio route, working in Olympic, Air, Manor, Battery, Abbey Road and Sarm and learned his craft from assisting sand watching one of the greatest musical minds in existence.
Gavin works with artists in every genre from all over the world, based out of his own Magic Garden Studios in West Midlands which has been operating for over 30 years!
Gavin is passionate about the area he lives in, taking part in mentoring and education, employing local staff and overseeing masterclasses in record production at BIMM, ACU, The Conservatoire and Manchester SAE among others.
Spanning an impressive 38 year career so far, Gavin has worked with the likes of:
Robert Plant, Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, The Twang, Tony Christie, The Cult, Grace Jones, Sly and Robbie, Jimmy Somerville, Aswad, Elvis Costello, Terry Hall, Kirsty MacColl, Femi Kuti, Jah Wobble, Meredith Brookes, Goldblade, Nizlopi, Scott Matthews, Lemmy, The Destroyers, The Sherlocks, The Blinders, JAWS, and an absolute host of bright, and flourishing current artists with the world in front of them