Your Creative Network Starts Here

Industry Link is ACM’s dedicated team focused on supporting students as they build their careers in the creative industries.

From performance and production to business, games, songwriting and creative entrepreneurship, we help you make real industry connections, gain experience and develop as an artist or creative professional.

 

What We Do

ACM’s Dedicated Team for Professional Growth

We are here to ensure that during your time at ACM, and after, you can identify as an artist or creative professional and build meaningful industry connections.

The Industry Link team is available across Birmingham, Guildford and London campuses to support you through:

  • One-to-one meetings and career guidance
  • Gig opportunities and live events
  • Job placements and internships
  • Creative industry networking
  • Masterclasses and guest expert sessions
  • Industry-led workshops and portfolio support

Students are encouraged to contact the team through the Canvas Industry Link page to request support or book a 1-2-1 session.

Contact Industry Link Team

Build Your Creative Future

With access to unrivalled industry contacts across the games and music business, the team are committed to putting on events that connect students and deliver incredible insight into life as a professional artist.

 

Network

We connect you personally with students, tutors, events and masterclasses across all ACM campuses, helping you build a powerful network that supports your creative journey.

Events

With access to unrivalled contacts across music, games and the creative industries, we host events that inspire, inform and connect you with real professionals and organisations.

Careers

Industry Link is here to help you transition into life as a working creative. From job boards and industry partnerships to mentoring and one-to-one sessions, we support your professional development every step of the way.

Artist development can include a variety of activities, such as vocal coaching, songwriting workshops, performance coaching, image consulting, social media strategy, and marketing and promotion. The goal is to help the artist create a unique brand identity and sound, develop their skills as a performer, and navigate the complex and competitive music industry.

Music artist development often involves collaboration between the artist, their management team, producers, record labels, and other industry professionals. The process may take months or even years, and can involve multiple steps and stages, including writing and recording music, building a fan base through live performances, and securing record deals or distribution deals.

Ultimately, the goal of artist development is to help talented artists reach their full potential, and build long-term careers in the music industry.

Students accepted into the Games Incubator are guided by ACM’s expert tutors, each bringing extensive experience from across games design, development, production and publishing. Throughout the programme, you will receive hands-on support and constructive feedback at every stage from initial concept and prototyping through to final release and promotion.

Our partnership with Supermassive Games, the BAFTA winning studio behind Until Dawn and The Quarry provides Incubator participants with direct insight into professional development practices.

Through mentorship sessions, workshops and feedback opportunities, Supermassive Games’ team members share their expertise in production pipelines, creative problem-solving and career development, helping you align your work with the standards and expectations of the modern games industry.

Each Incubator project follows a structured development pathway:

  • Ideation and Pitching: Students propose and refine game concepts with input from tutors and industry mentors.
  • Production and Prototyping: Teams collaborate across disciplines to develop playable builds using professional tools and workflows.
  • Testing and Feedback: Projects are regularly reviewed by ACM tutors and industry specialists to ensure quality and progress.
  • Showcase and Release: Completed games are presented to industry guests, potential employers and the wider ACM community.

They will guide you and also give you critical feedback and the fact that this is coming from industry and not your tutors means it falls outside of anything you could be assessed on and reflects exactly how the industry works, in practice.

At this stage in your career, you will be wanting to perform at gigs and showcase your talents. Our mentors can help guide and shape you to becoming great entertainers and performers.

It is not just about the performance though, our mentors can also help with planning and organising tours; getting the best out of live performances, we understand these are skills that sometimes don’t come naturally, they are things that need to be worked on consistently until they become second-nature for you. Every amateur has the potential to become a pro – all it takes is dedication, hard work and practice. We are here to get the best out of you.

Head over to The Industry Link Canvas page to book in a 1-2-1

Metropolis Blue

Metropolis Blue is ACM’s student-led label in partnership with Metropolis Studios in London.

Metropolis Blue is partnered with AWAL for digital distribution and is a label that covers all bases of the music industry, from bands, singers, rappers, and songwriters.

Students can get involved with our labels in 2 ways:

  • Join the label team. Get involved across all different divisions of a record label, from A&R to PR, design, promotion, booking and more. Learn by doing and gain great experience for your CV.
  • Release music through Metropolis Blue. Get the full support from a complete label team who will help you develop a plan and strategy for your music.

We hold bi-weekly meetings alongside A&R workshops to discover new talent as well as showcases each term, making sure we keep industry aligned with our plans, releases and signings.

Masterclasses & Creative Camps

Industry Link hosts a diverse programme of masterclasses, camps and industry sessions led by professionals across the creative industries.

These events bring inspiration, career insight and specialist knowledge directly into the ACM community.

Events

Welcome Breakfast
Guildford

Welcome Breakfast

Come join us for a quick breakfast before the day gets started!

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ACM Campus Quest
Guildford

ACM Campus Quest

Scavenger Hunt around campus! Follow the clues and get to know your new buildings

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Duck Society Duck Hunt
Guildford

Duck Society Duck Hunt

Keep your eyes peeled around campus for our hidden rubber ducks! Find one, follow the clues, and get involved in a fun…

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Pallett Jam Sessions
Guildford

Pallett Jam Sessions

Stop by Rodboro Reception and check out our jam sessions running throughout the day. Whether you’re picking up an instrument or jumping…

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E-Sports/Games Session
Birmingham

E-Sports/Games Session

Come and get stuck into our Games Labs, get closer to your future peers and understand our systems. Hosted by an ACM…

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VR Wellbeing Session
Guildford

VR Wellbeing Session

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Alumni

ACM is dedicated to fostering a lasting and supportive relationship with our graduates. We continue to support and champion our alumni as they advance in their careers, offering them access to book facilities and resources to aid in their professional endeavours. As our graduates become industry experts, we collaborate with them to provide students with access to valuable masterclasses, enriching their external journey with industry insights. Additionally, we encourage our alumni to connect and network through our dedicated social media platforms, which serve as vibrant communities for sharing achievements, opportunities, and advice.

Billen Ted

Billen Ted

Producer Duo

Billen Ted is an acclaimed British production and DJ duo consisting of Tom Hollings and Sam Brennan. Based out of London’s historic Ealing Studios, the pair made an unlikely but successful transition from the death metal scene to the forefront of global dance-pop. They skyrocketed to international fame in 2021 with their chart-topping remix of Nathan Evans’ "Wellerman," and have since become go-to collaborators for industry heavyweights like Anne-Marie, Little Mix, and David Guetta. Known for their signature blend of "feel-good" piano melodies and heavy basslines, the BRIT-nominated duo continues to dominate the charts, most recently making waves with the viral sensation "Man In Finance." Beyond the studio, they serve as dedicated ambassadors for Alcohol Change UK, using their platform to support the charity’s mission to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Kenya Grace

Kenya Grace

Singer, songwriter & producer
Guitar
Diploma
YEAR
2019

Kenya Grace (born May 9, 1998) is a South African-born British singer, songwriter, and producer known for her 2023 viral hit "Strangers," which topped the UK Singles Chart. She is a rare female artist who writes, performs, and produces her own electronic, drum 'n' bass-infused music, bridging emotional vocals with high-energy dancefloor production.

Afrika Green

Afrika Green

Drummer
Contemporary Popular Music
Undergraduate
YEAR
2010

Afrika Green is a talented drummer who graduated from The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM). With a strong passion for music and a focus on drumming, Afrika honed her skills at ACM and now has had the amazing opportunity of drumming for big names such as The Pet Shop Boys, High Contrast, Becky Hill and Fleur East.

Sophiella Chappell

Sophiella Chappell

Marketing Manager
Music Business & Innovation
BA Music Business & Innovation 2013-2015
YEAR
2015

Royalty Specialist and ACM alumni Sophiella, started their career at Peermusic as an Synchronisation Assistant Intern and worked through the ranks at various other companies such as SRLV and Entertainment One and since 2019 has been working with Goldcrest Films as an Royalty Manager.

Richard Darbon

Richard Darbon

Marketing Manager
Music Business
Undergraduate
YEAR
2010

Richard Darbon, an ACM alumni, has excelled in the music industry since graduating. He has worked for PRS for Music, BMG UK, and Warner Chappell Music in various roles, including Income Tracking, Revenue Analyst, Tour Consultancy, and currently serves as the Director and Product Owner - Data Business Intelligence. His diverse experiences highlight his expertise in financial management, live music consulting, and leveraging data for strategic decision-making.

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