Pirate Studios launches Prodigy Programme for new UK acts

Pirate Studios has launched a new talent programme as part of a move to back up-and-coming British talent.

The Pirate Prodigy Programme will help launch the careers of three new UK acts with the assistance of an industry team, made up of managers, agents, promoters, music publishers, PRs and radio executives from the industry.

The panel will offer one-to-one mentoring and masterclasses covering management, publishing and A&R to radio airplay, songwriting and PR. Pirate Studios will provide unlimited free use of their rehearsal facilities, studio time with professional engineers, free video production, branding and marketing advice as well as promotion across social media channels.

The three winners will be granted an audience with industry A&R at three invite-only shows taking place across the UK in the summer, as well as securing their place at festivals.

Pirate Studios has unveiled the mentoring programme as it prepares to launch in another 10 UK locations this year, adding to its existing 150 studios, while it also has plans for international expansion into Germany and the US.

The competition launches at 3pm today (19 February) with submissions open for tracks at piratestudios.co.uk/prodigy – entries will be transferred to SoundCloud for the public vote.

The final deadline for entries is 19 March.

“We have 20,000 musicians in our community – a lot are producing amazing music,” said David Borrie, co-founder Pirate Studios. “We find it incredible some of these guys aren’t already household names so we thought it would be awesome if we could be the ones to give them a helping hand.”