Why Study Music at ACM?
Study Music at ACM
ACM’s Music Courses are built around one idea: that the best way to learn music is to live it. From your first year, you’ll work in professional studios, collaborate with fellow musicians, and be taught by tutors who are actively working in the industry. Whether you’re a songwriter, producer, performer, or all three, our courses are designed to develop your craft and your career at the same time.
Industry Link & Careers
Your career starts before you graduate. ACM’s industry connections run deep, from labels and publishers to venues, studios, and management companies. Through our Industry Link events, you’ll access real briefs, live showcases, and networking opportunities that put you in front of the people who matter. Thousands of ACM graduates have gone on to build careers across the music industry, and the next success story could be yours.
Our Team
ACM’s faculty are active professionals: gigging musicians, working producers, signed artists, and industry veterans who bring the realities of the music world into every session. They will help you go beyond learning theory in a classroom; you’ll get honest, experienced guidance from people who are still doing what you want to do.
Cutting-Edge Facilities
Our campuses in Guildford, London, and Birmingham are built around professional-standard spaces: SSL production suites, live rooms, vocal booths, rehearsal spaces with full PA systems, and music technology labs designed to mirror real working environments.
All of our music students benefit from a partnership with world-renowned Metropolis Studios. In London, students can also access the Blue Room Studios, which feature an SSL suite, a live room, and a Dolby Atmos surround-sound mixing suite for film, TV, and immersive audio. In Birmingham, Grosvenor Road Studios, the city’s oldest working recording studio, offers a 50-seat live room, a Neve Genesys console, and Dolby Atmos in Studio Two.
Accelerated Degrees
Our Accelerated Degree allows you to complete the degree over two years instead of the traditional three, giving you the same outcome, but faster and more efficiently. The most immediate benefit is financial. By completing your degree in two years, you reduce both tuition fees and living costs across an entire year, meaning less overall borrowing and a quicker route into paid work or further study. Academically, nothing is lost. You still experience the full Creative Industries Futures model — including Skills Units, collaborative projects, and industry-facing work, but delivered through a more intensive structure across the year.
Find Your Music Course
Where ACM Graduates Go Next?
- 88% have either entered work or further study 15 months after graduating
- 69% actively pursuing creative careers
- 87.5% who study further remain in their creative field
- Top alumni-rated strengths:
• technical skills • industry access • collaboration • confidence
ACM Alumni Insights Survey 2025, conducted with graduates across multiple years of study.
ACM Music Alumni
Afrika Green
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.
Amber Chen
Music business graduate managing major artists and contributing to award-winning commercial success.
Amber Chen is a London-based music manager at Atlas Artists who has worked with artists including Celeste, Rachel Chinouriri, newfamiliar, Kam-BU, and Gabriels. With a background in the music business and experience managing bands since age 16, she focuses on artist development, campaign management, and creative strategy, including work on Rachel Chinouriri's "Plain Jane" video and Celeste's #1 album.
Crissie Rhodes
Crissie Rhodes is a British country singer best known as one-half of the popular country duo The Shires. The duo formed The Shires in 2013 alongside songwriter and musician Ben Earle. The duo gained significant success with their debut album, "Brave," which became the first UK country album to enter the top ten of the UK Albums Chart. Crissie's rich and captivating voice, combined with her songwriting talent, has earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. With multiple chart-topping albums and numerous awards under her belt, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the British country music scene.
James Corbitt
ACM's Business & Innovation graduate James Corbitt has been making waves in the industry since graduating back in 2016. James has had the privilege of working with major businesses in the idustry such as Verdigrisi Management, Cooking Vinyl and more recently Autonomy Music group as a Product & Artist Manager.
Molly Smitten-Downes
Molly Smitten-Downes, an ACM alumni, made waves in the music industry with her dance music project Stunt, which quickly climbed the UK charts. Representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, Molly composed and performed her own song, "Children of the Universe," showcasing her talent and breaking down barriers with her music. With a record deal from Warner Music UK, Molly continued to make her mark, performing at prestigious events like the Glastonbury Festival and collaborating with renowned artists like German DJ Zwette. Her achievements have been recognized with awards, including Best Urban/Pop Act at Live and Unsigned and Best Song at the Best of British Unsigned Music Awards. Molly's musical journey is a testament to her passion and creativity in the industry.
