LIMF Academy marks a decade of nurturing talent with a comprehensive guide.
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In the heart of Liverpool, the Liverpool City Council's LIMF Academy, a music talent development programme founded in 2014, is marking its 10th anniversary with a significant impact. The programme, as outlined in its recent report, is playing a pivotal role in fostering music talent outside major cities, providing a structured framework for nurturing talent in less urbanized areas.
The LIMF Academy offers specialized training and development opportunities tailored to local talents, building a sustainable infrastructure that incubates artists from grassroots to professional levels. The programme encourages collaboration and engagement across wider geographic regions, helping musicians from outside major cities gain vital industry experience and exposure.
Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, hailed the LIMF Academy as an exemplar and a key pipeline of emerging talent in Liverpool's music scene. Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, praised the LIMF Academy for launching careers and building a creative, resilient community.
The report highlights the LIMF Academy's commitment to diversity, with 34.9% of participants identifying as non-white and 44.1% as non-male. An independent music consultant's report detailing the impact of the LIMF Academy to date reveals that 79.7% of alumni are maintaining careers in the music industry. Alumni of the LIMF Academy average over nine times as many plays as non-Academy peers.
The programme has produced a number of successful artists. Jazmine Johnson, a LIMF Academy alumna from the 2024/25 cohort, has gained over ten million worldwide streams from her debut collaboration and has a publishing deal with Ultra, one of the biggest dance labels. Ni Maxine, a LIMF Academy alumna from the 2021/22 cohort, is a neo-jazz singer-songwriter who has had sold-out shows, won a Youth Music Award, and performed alongside Corinne Bailey Rae and Laura Mvula.
Jalen Ngonda, a LIMF Academy alum from the 2015/16 cohort, is a prolific singer-songwriter who has received global critical acclaim and attracted the attention of notable figures such as Snoop Dogg, Olivia Dean, and Elton John. Michael Aldag, a LIMF Academy alum from the 2020/21 cohort, is a singer-songwriter who signed with Universal Records and has had three sold-out headline tours and numerous European tours.
The LIMF Academy Orchestrated initiative pairs LIMF Academy artists with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for collaborative performances. KOJ, a LIMF Academy alum from the 2022/23 cohort, is a rising UK rap star generating industry buzz and gaining a larger fanbase.
Yaw Owusu, the founder and creative director of the LIMF Academy, stated that the programme aims to break down barriers and give emerging music creators the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive. The LIMF Academy is part of the Liverpool International Music Festival.
The report emphasizes the importance of establishing new partnerships for the programme's sustainability and growth. The LIMF Academy's model actively changes the landscape of music talent development by extending opportunities beyond major cities, providing pathways and resources that smaller communities typically lack.
This aligns with Liverpool City Council’s broader commitment to supporting creative industries regionally and addressing talent development gaps outside dominant urban centers. The LIMF Academy's success story serves as a replicable blueprint for other local authorities aiming to cultivate music talent at regional or community levels.
Read the full report hereLearn more about the LIMF Academy here
- The LIMF Academy's unique music talent development programme has not only fostered local talent in Liverpool but has also expanded its impact across various lifestyle disciplines, such as entertainment, providing a platform for artists to collaborate and showcase their talents to wider audiences.
- As the LIMF Academy continues to transform the music landscape, it encourages individuals from non-major cities to embrace their talent and passion for music, thereby enhancing the diversity in the music industry and contributing to a vibrant, creative lifestyle for all.
