WELCOME TO THE BMAs

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).

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. 

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.

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.

On a mission to create the most infamous nightclubs in Europe, Jack launched TOTAL UPRAWR in Birmingham seven years ago. UPRAWR now has 5* rehearsal studios, two venues and an internationally renowned publishing company, all before he hit 25.

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.

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.

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.

Meldra is a singer-songwriter, wife to Jonny Amos, and Co-Founder/Managing Director at The SongLab.  A household name in her native Latvia, Meldra has been a successful pop artist since the age of 15 and is testament to Birmingham, proudly basing herself here for home and work. She is also a songwriting tutor at BIMM 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.

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.

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.

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.