Industry Culture Collective: Music Masterclass pilot

Join us in person for the Industry Culture Collective’s Music Masterclass pilot!

We’re working with the BBC and the University of East London to launch a new masterclass designed to open pathways into the music and wider creative sector for young people and emerging talent.

Hear directly from industry voices in a live panel, take part in a Q&A, and connect with others over a relaxed networking lunch.

Plus a special In Conversation with Ebenezer Ayerh aka Slix (founding member of Ruff Sqwad).

This session is for London’s young people and emerging talent—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—offering clear, practical insight into careers, access routes and real opportunities in music.

Music Masterclass Panel includes:

• Mandy Mann, Assistant Commissioner, Music & Events, BBC Asian Network
• Manny Loveankh, CEO/Founder, True Cadence CIC
• J.R Josephs, CEO, Sirlute
• Athul

Hosted by internationally recognised singer and award-winning social entrepreneur Tiwa King.

The session and lunch are free, with limited places available—book early to secure your spot.

The event is aimed at young people aged 16–30, emerging creatives, aspiring music professionals and students and graduates interested in music careers.

Come along to learn, connect, and help shape future masterclasses.

Venue: The Source, University of East London, 1 Salway Rd, London, E15 1NF

Date: Thurs 4 June 2026

Time: 11.30am-2.30pm

Free entry, booking required

Tiwa King

Tiwa King is an internationally known singer, wellbeing consultant, two-time TEDx speaker, host, BBC radio contributor, author, award-winning social-entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Beyond a Song CIC. Beyond a Song is a unique social-enterprise on a mission to empower, build confidence and self-love; ensuring individuals’ wellbeing is at the core of everything they do – through the power of song. Dedicated to empowering women and mothers of neurodiverse children, Tiwa is proud to have collaborated with renowned organisations such as Apple, Sky, Social Ark, the BBC, KPMG, the NHS and numerous incredible grassroots organisations. This year Tiwa was selected to be a UN Women delegate and has been named on the Top 100 list in this year’s NatWest WISE100-Women Leading in Social Enterprise.

Mandy Mann

Mandy Mann is Assistant Commissioner across Music and Events at BBC Asian Network, shaping music strategy and championing British Asian talent. She leads Asian Network Certified, curates major DJ takeovers, and has built partnerships with Myrchfest, Breaking Borders and SXSW. She contributes to the wider industry as a voting member for Radio 1's The Sound Of and the BRIT Awards.

Manny Loveankh

Emmanuel C Ebokosia, also known as Manny Loveankh, is a multi-award-winning Social entrepreneur, Creative Practitioner and Business Consultant. As the Founder and CEO of True Cadence CIC, he successfully built the social enterprise from the ground up, overseeing its day-to-day operations and steering it toward strategic objectives.

J.R Josephs

J.R Josephs is the CEO and founder of Sirlute, an award‑winning creative charity empowering young people aged 5 to 25 years across London through music, fashion, multimedia, mentoring and industry opportunities. Growing up in East London as part of the first generation of grime, J.R’s journey from youth clubs and pirate radio to building a citywide creative institution shapes everything he does. J.R now sits on panels and advisory groups across the sector, championing youth voice, inclusive creative education and local opportunity. His work continues to centre lived experience, community leadership and the belief that creativity can transform futures.

Athul

Athul is a music producer and singer-songwriter from India. He has released three original singles and has performed in multiple venues in London, carving out a sound that blends melodic songwriting with polished production rooted in the electronic music world.

Ebenezer Ayerh aka Slix

Ebenezer Ayerh aka Slix is also a founding member of Ruff Sqwad. From classic Pirate Radio sets and the Lord of The Mics movement, Ebenezer spent 15 years surrounded by some of the UKs most renowned artists, released five solo mix tapes feat the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32, and Lady Leshurr and two Albums with his collective Ruff Sqwad who's sound still resonates today via recent viral sensations by Stormzy 'Shut up', Chip 'Pepper Riddim', and Chip x Stormzy 'Hear Dis'!

Ebenezer is a qualified youth worker, has a National Diploma in youth and community work and is a very experienced youth mentor. He began youth work formally in 2012, particularly mentoring young offenders with the charity Fight for Peace using Boxing and Martial Arts to help youth realize and maximize their full potential. In 2014 Ebenezer was approached by Spotlight to deliver music sessions because of his well-known reputation for engaging with those deemed as Hard To Reach and those Not in Education Employment or Training, as well as his unique background and accomplishments in urban music. Ebenezer has fantastic community and local authority connections in Tower Hamlets and Newham where he is seen as a community leader.

Since 2014, Prince and Ebs have been working at Spotlight delivering regular Friday night music sessions YCHTB with young people aged 11-19. However, they wanted to do more and decided it was time to design and deliver their own programmes. With Arts Council England support they founded RSAF in 2017 to work with more young people and support them in a way that would have a more sustainable impact on them, their communities, and the cultural/creative sector.

Given Ebs and Prince’s music industry experience RSAF directly delivers youth music projects, and given the genres they specialize in, and the communities they work with, many come from less advantaged backgrounds. Many of the young people RSAF work
with are affected by current youth issues, and some also have dysfunctional home lives, are economically challenged, have additional needs or are socially marginalized. Ebs and Prince are both highly skilled and experienced youth workers themselves as well as Grime Legends, so are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the young people and youth workers in “hard to reach” communities, as well as the needs of the arts practitioner wanting to deliver projects. RSAF provides an environment where young people can access the support to survive and thrive personally and professionally.

Over the past 10 years they have built an extensive network predominantly amongst young people from lower socio-economic Black and minority ethnic backgrounds aged 11-25 from Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney. Their extensive work and commitment to these groups has resulted in an credible reputation for supporting young creatives from lower socio-economic Black and minority ethnic communities and they’re particularly committed to supporting these groups as they traditionally have had less access to mainstream resources and therefore they are significantly less likely to gain access to creative career pathways.

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