Sound and Music News

Today we’re delighted to announce applications for Round Two of the Essentials Fund are now open. The Essentials Fund offers small grants of £250–£400 to support your artistic development by covering costs for self-learning projects, equipment, mentoring, or other expenses directly related to your work.

Applications are now open for In the Making 2025—the UK’s only year-long artist development programme for talented young music creators and composers aged 14–18. It supports those passionate about composing in any form and is open to all, regardless of instrument, musical interests, creative goals, background, or location.

In January 2025, we brought The Curating Composer: Creating Cultures of New Music research to REMIX Summit London, hosted at the Royal Academy of Arts. This was part of a vital conversation on grassroots music scenes, placemaking, and the role of DIY curators in shaping culture.

Sound of the Year Awards are celebration of sound presented by The Radiophonic Institute (TRI) and The Museum of Sound. 

From the everyday sounds that encapsulate the events of the past twelve months to the year’s most innovative and creative sound technology, the Sound of the Year Awards celebrates sound in all its forms and from all corners of the world.

As we celebrate five years of Fair Access, we’re launching a sector-wide push to raise awareness and encourage even more organisations to endorse these principles. If you or an organisation, ensemble, or venue you work with would like to learn more, we’d love to invite you to one of our upcoming information sessions.

In our monthly Alumni Spotlight series, we celebrate the journeys of artists who have been part of Sound and Music’s programmes. This month, in collaboration with Steinberg, we hear from the talented Eva, an aspiring young composer passionate about creating atmospheric soundtracks for video games and films.