Our Music Development Lab is back! Join us for a day of workshops, insights, and 1-to-1s with industry experts, at Bradford College's brand-new state-of-the-art facility - The Producing Academy.
When?
Thursday 19 February 2026
What time?
10 AM - 4 PM
Where?
Bradford College
Our Amplify: Music Development Lab is a free, full-day, in-person event for musicians and music creators based in the Bradford District.
Taking place at Bradford College, this intensive day offers hands-on creative development, industry insight and the chance to book tailored 1-to-1 support with experienced music industry professionals.
Designed to be practical, supportive and rooted in the realities of the music industry, the labs will support you to strengthen your creative practice, develop your professional knowledge, and expand your confidence in navigating the music industry.
What to expect
Our Amplify: Music Development Lab will include:
Music labs
Industry insight session set in Bradford College’s brand-new state-of-the-art facility – The Producing Academy.Industry panel discussion
Hear from a range of music industry professionals sharing insights into their roles, career pathways and current sector realities.
(Panel speakers to be confirmed.)Bookable 1-to-1 support sessions
1-to-1 sessions with panellists and facilitators, offering tailored advice relevant to your own practice and goals.
This programme takes place at Bradford College’s brand new music facilities, and offers a rare opportunity to work alongside peers and professionals in a focused, supportive setting.
Participants can expect to gain:
- Insight and learning from experienced music industry professionals
- Increased understanding of career routes within the music sector
- Practical recording and songwriting techniques
- New connections with artists and industry peers
- Clearer next steps for creative and professional development
Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the day. For participants who are observing Ramadan, an alternative breakout space will be available to use during breaks. Please let us know when booking if you would like us to be aware of any specific requirements.
Who this event is for
This opportunity is for you if:
You are a musician or music creator living in the Bradford District, or you have a strong, demonstrable connection to the district
You are aged 18 or over
You have been making music for at least one year and are already releasing music, or have music ready to release
You will be asked to confirm your eligibility when booking.
Online introductory session
Ahead of the in-person event, all registered participants will be invited to attend an online introductory session.
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Time: 12.00 PM – 1.00 PM
Format: Online (Zoom)
This session will:
- Introduce the industry panellists
- Outline what to expect from the event
- Help participants decide which 1-to-1 sessions they would like to book
Register today!
Registration for this event closes on Wednesday 11 February 2025 at 11 PM
If you have any questions at all, please drop us an email at hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk
Meet the Industry Professionals joining our event
Pete Bott
Panelist
Pete Bott is a Partner and Head of Music Law at Blacks Solicitors. After beginning his career as a performer, producer and songwriter, he qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and went on to work at specialist music law firms in London before returning to Blacks in 2022. Pete advises artists, managers and independent labels on recording, publishing, management and licensing, and is known for explaining complex legal issues in a clear, practical way that supports long-term careers.
Christella Litras
Panelist & Songwriting Workshop
Christella Litras is an award-winning composer, musical director, songwriter, producer and artist developer. Her work spans theatre, opera, film and large-scale public events, with commissions from organisations including Leeds Playhouse, Northern Opera and Bradford 2025. As a performer, she has toured internationally and collaborated with leading artists across genres. Alongside her creative practice, Christella is deeply committed to artist development and currently serves as Creative Director at Music House Leeds.
Danny West
Panelist
Danny West is a Producer at Universal Production Music UK, with over a decade of experience across music production, artist development and publishing. His work spans A&R, sync licensing, brand partnerships and artist management, with credits including collaborations with Virgin Media, Sky Sports and MTV. Known for his strategic and hands-on approach, Danny supports artists and creators to navigate the industry while developing innovative production music for global platforms.
Melissa Steel
Panelist
Melissa Steel is a MOBO-nominated artist with over 300 million streams worldwide. Known for her blend of pop, dancehall and house, she has collaborated with artists including Popcaan, Wizkid, Wretch 32 and Nathan Dawe. Her releases include UK Top 10 and Platinum-certified hits, and she brings first-hand experience of navigating the commercial music industry as a contemporary recording artist.
Georgia Barker
Panelist
Georgia Barker is a social media and personal branding specialist and founder of For Socials Sake. With over a decade of experience, she has worked with brands including Leeds United, Asda, Meatless Farm and Alo. Georgia focuses on helping creatives and artists build authentic online identities, using social media as a strategic tool to grow audiences, strengthen visibility and create opportunities within the creative industries.
FAQs
If you need a bursary to cover your time, please complete our Bursary & Access Fund form. We offer bursaries of £75 for full-day in-person development activities such as this.
To enable us to support as many artists as possible through our programmes, bursaries should only be requested if this is something you need, for example, if you are freelance or required to take unpaid leave to participate in the activity.
Yes, we can cover travel and any other access costs that may otherwise present a barrier to you being able to participate in the activity. Access costs include things like childcare and other caring costs; BSL, language and other interpretation costs; as well as access support workers, or any other access costs you might face.
To apply for this funding, please complete a Bursary & Access Fund form once you have booked your place.
Yes, but you will need to book individual tickets.
Amplify: Development Lab sits within our wider PRS Foundation supported Amplify programme, and extends our aim of supporting music creators in Bradford to develop, sustain and progress their creative practice. By opening up access to professional development activity beyond the core programme cohort, we can support a greater number of artists to benefit from the skills, knowledge, networks and tailored support embedded within Amplify. This approach helps us remove barriers to industry insight and professional development, support artists at different stages of their journey, and contribute to a more connected, confident and resilient music sector across Bradford District. Thank you to Bradford College and the PRS Foundation for their generous support of this event.