The Music Managers Forum (MMF) and YouTube Music have unveiled the first 15 participants of MMF Hyperdrive, their joint initiative to fast-track the professional development of talented music managers.
Successful applicants include employees of several UK management businesses, including Big Life Management, East City Management, Eleven Management and Solar Management, as well as a range of independent operators.
The programme is an evolution of the companies’ joint Accelerator, which has supported more than 150 UK-based managers through a unique combination of grant funding and expert-led training.
MMF HYPERDRIVE PARTICIPANTS (FIRST 15):
- Andy Westhead, Foray MGMT (representing: InMe, Lastelle, Mogy)
- Annie McIntyre, And Artist Management (Crazy P, Felix Dickinson, Hot Toddy, Ron Basejam)
- Claire Kilcourse, Big Life Management (Orla Gartland, Look Mum No Computer, The Futureheads, Sivu)
- Gareth Dobson, Wichita Management (Gold Panda, Gruff Rhys, Gwenifer Raymond, Luke Abbott, Snapped Ankles)
- Hannah Beasley-Garrigan, Repercussion Management (Tash LC, Ikonika, Sir Hiss, Holly Lester)
- Ina Dubois, Eleven Management (Gorillaz, Blur, Clean Bandit)
- Jack Fratini, East City Management (Kodaline, Keo, Bertie Newman)
- James Foster, Coalition-Audio (AMC, Aktive, Delta Heavy, Koven)
- Jess Plummer, Solar Management (Cameo Blush, Four Tet, Tom Skinner)
- Mark Meyer, GroundStaff (Ichiko Aoba, Liana Flores)
- Morgan Harrop, All Day Music (Again&Again)
- Olivia Williams (Fergus McCreadie, Sholto)
- Seán Price, Brook Records (Curtisy, Banríon)
- Trillest, TRC Management (Skarz, Bnizz & Wizxrd)
- Xavier Burgess, Monopoly MGMT (Cikho, SunnyBoyFitz, Sabodi, The League Of Rebelz)
Our goal is that this new network will help boost their businesses and open up the potential of new technologies and working practices.”
Paul Bonham
MMF Hyperdrive aims to boost career growth of an eclectic cohort of MMF members by offering an intensive four-month training programme.
Working in partnership with YouTube Music, participants will learn new skills to help supercharge their businesses, including capacity building, enhancing creativity, and learning about new commercial models and tools. Through a travel bursary, they will also receive support to attend key conferences and MMF events, as well as tickets to the 2026 Artist & Manager Awards.
The programme culminates in a dedicated three-day retreat and an opportunity to earn recognition from the MMF’s recently launched Manager Certification Programme.
Paul Bonham, director, professional development, MMF, said: “The MMF’s partnership with YouTube Music has been key to us developing a comprehensive range of professional development programmes for managers, most notably with Accelerator. MMF Hyperdrive raises the bar even further, and we’re delighted to unveil the first 14 participants to benefit. They already represent an incredible array of talent, and our goal is that this new network will help boost their businesses and open up the potential of new technologies and working practices.”
Maddy Smith, artist relations manager, YouTube Music, added: “We at YouTube are thrilled to be evolving our longstanding partnership with the MMF, with the launch of Hyperdrive. Once again, we have an amazing group of managers, whose diverse expertise and experience will create an incredible opportunity for knowledge sharing and community building.”
MMF & YouTube Music celebrate the Accelerator programme. Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian
Some of the first cohort have reflected on being selected.
Jess Plummer, Solar Management, said: “I'm incredibly grateful to join this new cohort and to deepen my understanding of the industry's rapidly shifting digital landscape, while tackling both the challenges and exciting opportunities facing independent managers today."
Independent manager, Olivia Williams, added: “The Hyperdrive programme is the only course of its kind, and as an independent manager it's going to provide me with invaluable access to resources, expertise and a network of peers that will have a huge impact on my work.”
Trillest said: “Management is about sacrificing to believe in someone else’s dreams, and doing everything you can to help make them a reality. I applied to Hyperdrive to learn, grow and become the best manager I can be for my artist.”
More details on MMF Hyperdrive will be provided at the MMF’s Manager Summit and AGM this Monday, September 28. It is a full day event with a focus on authentic artist development and community building in an age of algorithms and AI.
