Congratulations to ICMP Music Business and Entrepreneurship graduate Lewis Speirs on winning support from Arts Council England for his latest music business project.
Since leaving ICMP in 2021, Lewis has been making waves within the grassroots music sector.
As both an artist and an entrepreneur, Lewis has launched and grown two successful companies in Shoot First - a PR and Digital Marketing agency for emerging artists - and One For The Ditch – a promotions company working on supporting the next generation of fans and musicians alike within the emerging music scene; all while being the frontman of the fast growing alt rock band Picture The Scene.
The group recently garnered support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and have made a name for themselves with their relentless touring, clocking up over 100 shows this year alone.
Lewis recently secured funding from The Arts Council in England to marry these two projects together to create The Independent Music Tour. Starting this month, the venture will feature over 25 artists, playing 11 shows, in 11 different cities, with the aim of promoting the best new music talent while also introducing an emerging generation to their local scenes and venues alike.
Prior to securing his funding, Lewis reached out to his former ICMP tutor Neil March for support writing his funding bid. Music Business tutor Neil is now assisting Lewis to project managing the tour, along with support from MA Music Business Programme Leader Yannis Iliopoulos, who has provided additional promotional input and support.
Commenting on Lewis’s success and current venture, Yannis said:
From day one as an ICMP student Lewis was notable for his drive and determination. Many of our Music Business students come to ICMP as artists in their own right and Lewis harnessed the opportunity to deep dive into the business side of the industry. His success upon graduating comes as no surprise, it’s been a pleasure continuing to support him, as we do with so many of our graduates, in his recent endeavours and we wish him all the success with the tour.”
The tour (which will run from 11th to 25th April) will also feature Lewis’s band Picture The Scene, who will be headlining the London date on Saturday 15th April at The Lexington, with Viia and fellow ICMP alumnus Josh Vine in support.
While the show is a fantastic opportunity to support new independent music, it will also function as a networking event. ICMP students are encouraged to convene to connect with others within the industry, from journalists and managers to A&R and members of other music business and performance courses from other London institutions.
Always one to give back and support his peers, Lewis has kindly offered ICMP students a 25 percent off their ticket using code “ICMP”. Five guest list spots will also be made available to students, and details on how to win those tickets can be found our social media profiles.
We wish Lewis all the best with his venture!
Read more about ICMP's School of Music Business
Equally focused on Music Business & Entrepreneurship
The music business is an incredibly competitive environment – and over the last 30 years, ICMP has developed and refined a cutting-edge degree that now focuses equally on entrepreneurship. We’re the first music school in the UK to recognise that you need to understand not just marketing, management, finance, digital, creativity and all the structures and quirks that make the industry unique, but also how to forge your own path, create your own job, and change the future for the better. With access to ICMP’s fully equipped music facilities, exclusive industry events, masterclasses and a peerless contact network, we have it all covered.
To completely immerse yourself in your music career, email our friendly Admissions Team at enquiries@icmp.ac.uk or call them on 020 7328 0222.
School of Music Business
The music business is an incredibly competitive environment – and over the last 30 years, ICMP has developed and refined a cutting-edge degree that now focuses equally on entrepreneurship. We’re the first music school in the UK to recognise that you need to understand not just marketing, management, finance, digital, creativity and all the structures and quirks that make the industry unique, but also how to forge your own path, create your own job, and change the future for the better. With access to ICMP’s fully equipped music facilities, exclusive industry events, masterclasses and a peerless contact network, we have it all covered.
To completely immerse yourself in your music career, email our friendly Admissions Team at enquiries@icmp.ac.uk or call them on 020 7328 0222.