Change the Record

We’re looking for people who:

• Have worked in the music industries for 2-5' years' with some experience of managing people, projects or initiatives
• Are curious to learn more about leadership and what that means in practice
• Are able to self-reflect to improve self-awareness
• Have ambition to lead and want to create positive change in the music industries

Like any application process, more people end up meeting the requirements than we can take on. When it’s time for the difficult decisions we look for a diverse range of participants who can bring a breadth of experience to the project.

This programme is open to women (cis and trans). 

As part of our All Things Equal initiative, we’re committed to creating inclusive and empowering spaces for all people of marginalised genders. While delivering this intentional programme for women, we’re currently consulting with trans and non-binary artists to inform our approach and future projects. This has been inspired by experiences detailed in this article by Saffron Records.

To apply you should:

• Identify as a woman (cis or trans)
• Be aged 18+
• Be based in the North of England (North East, North West and Yorkshire regions)

If you’d like to apply but have questions, please reach out to Rachel at [email protected].

A community gathering (Saturday 16 November 2024)

• Meet the rest of the cohort at Longsight Community Art Space
• Hear from guest speakers about leadership and leading change in the music industries

4 online workshops (December 2024 - March 2025)

• Explore communication styles, managing conflict, financial sustainability and working with corporate and commercial institutions

A weekend retreat (24-25 April 2025)

• Stay at Hebden Bridge Hostel with the rest of the cohort
• Take part in guest workshops around being authentic, intention setting, self-care and more, group discussions and walks

A peer-to-peer coaching group (May 2025 and beyond)

• Form an Action Learning Set (a self-facilitated peer-to-peer coaching group) to compassionately sound out professional challenges and identify opportunities and possibilities together

Throughout the duration of the programme you’ll also get access to different tools and resources to help you understand your preferred working and communication styles, and how to get the best out of others.

The project is free to attend. To help you take part we’ll cover:

• Travel and accommodation costs
• Access costs - for things like disability support, translation or childcare

Bursaries of £250 are also available to people who:

• Need to take unpaid leave from work to take part
• Work in a freelance capacity and will have to turn down work to take part
• Are in low income employment
• Receive Universal Credit, or another job allowance, as their main income

All participants will also receive a £400 development bursary to support your continued professional development beyond this programme.

As Brighter Sound isn’t an educational establishment, or an authorised provider of non-taxable bursaries, all bursary income is taxable, and should be recorded and reported to HMRC in the normal way. If you’re already registered as self-employed, income should be included with your records. If you’re not currently self-employed, details on how to register (and any other queries about reporting this income) can be found on the HMRC website.

In our application form we'll ask you some basic details, along with the following questions.

1. Please tell us about your experience in the music industries, including any professional development you might have already undertaken, and examples of how you might have 'led' in any way before in your career.
2. What do you think you’ll bring to the Change the Record cohort?
3. What challenges do you currently face in the music industries, and how will learning in this programme help you overcome these?
4. How could taking part in this programme help you achieve your future ambitions and have a lasting impact in your field?

You can either answer these questions in writing, or you can record yourself. If you do this, you'll just need to include links to your video or audio recordings. Have a read of our Top Tips for Applicants for more information on how to answer these questions.

The application deadline is Thursday 26 September, 11pm.

We encourage you to submit your application before the deadline but if you need a bit more time we can stretch an extra day or two. You’ll need to let us know by Wednesday 25 September if you’d like an extension.

You're welcome to apply with support from a personal assistant or carer. If there is anything we can do to help you to apply, please let us know.

Ready to apply? Head over to our Google Form.

If you know someone who you think would be interested in taking part, why not nominate them?

Send the person’s name and email address/social media profile to [email protected] and we’ll send them the application details.

Longsight Community Art Space has use of an off-site disabled toilet and the building is accessible by wheelchair/level access throughout. Find out more about getting to the venue on their website.

Hebden Bridge Hostel has a disabled toilet, a disabled room and is accessible by wheelchair/level access on the first floor. Find out more about getting to the venue on their website.

All online sessions will take place on Zoom. If some days you feel you can’t face another ‘camera on’ moment, it’s fine for you to turn your camera off at different points in the session. All we ask is that you’re actively listening throughout, and contributing to group discussions.

We aim to create spaces that are welcoming, engaging and supportive. Spaces where everyone is able to be themselves, and where abuse and discrimination are not tolerated.

Read our Safer Spaces Policy for more information.

Our approach to Safeguarding is the foundation of our Safer Spaces approach. By Safeguarding we mean the wellbeing, and protection from harm, abuse and mistreatment of anyone who benefits from our work, team members and others we come into contact with. Anyone who is part of our team has appropriate safeguarding knowledge and an understanding of how to deal with safeguarding issues should they arise.

Read our Safeguarding Policy for more information.

Get in touch with our Project Coordinator Rachel by emailing [email protected]. 

Or you can give us a call on 0161 546 5334. Please leave a message and we’ll get back to you.