Liverpool City Council’s pioneering music talent development programme, LIMF Academy, has marked its 10th anniversary by releasing a special report detailing its impact to date.
Founded in 2014 as part of Liverpool International Music Festival to showcase local talent, over the years the Academy has played an important role in bringing together creative development, industry access, personal growth and performance opportunities.
Produced by an independent music consultant, the report has revealed the following:
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79.7 per cent of alumni are maintaining careers in the music industry
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39.1 per cent have gained professional representation
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24.6 per cent of alumni have signed with a record label, a label service or gone on to have distribution and marketing deals
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Alumni average over nine times plays as non-Academy peers
The report also outlines the Academy’s commitment to diversity, with 34.9 per cent of participants identifying as non-white and 44.1 per cent as non-male.
Speaking about the report, Yaw Owusu, LIMF Academy’s founder and creative director, said: “This programme was built to break down barriers – financial, social, and structural – and to give emerging music creators from the region the tools, knowledge, and confidence to thrive. This report is a celebration of their journeys, a roadmap on how to develop music talent outside of the capital and a call to continue investing in the future of music.”
This report is a roadmap on how to develop music talent outside of the capital and a call to continue investing in the future of music
Yaw Owusu, LIMF Academy
The report also highlighted the success of initiatives such as LIMF Academy Orchestrated – a collaborative performance project that pairs LIMF Academy artists with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra to reinterpret original music in a live orchestral setting.
Some of the LIMF Academy alumni include:
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Jalen Ngonda, 2015/16 cohort – Hailing from Maryland, USA, Jalen chose to make Liverpool his home, and it was in the city where he would flourish as a musician. Now a prolific singer-songwriter he has received global critical acclaim and caught the attention of the likes of Snoop Dogg, Olivia Dean and Elton John.
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Ni Maxine, 2021/22 cohort – This neo-jazz singer-songwriter has had sold-out shows from Liverpool to London, has won a Youth Music Award for Best Original Track and has performed alongside Corinne Bailey Rae and Laura Mvula.
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KOJ, 2022/23 cohort – Gaining the reputation as one of UK rap’s rising stars, KOJ is creating huge industry buzz, and with his acclaimed debut EP, he has attracted even more attention and gained a larger fanbase.
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Michael Aldag, 2020/21 cohort – One of the UK’s most exciting singer-songwriters with an enormous online audience, Michael went on to sign with Universal Records and has had three sold-out headline tours and has numerous toured around Europe.
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Jazmine Johnson, 2024/25 Cohort – as well as gaining more than ten million worldwide streams from her debut collaboration with Netsky, Jazmine has a publishing deal with Ultra – one of the biggest dance labels around, and is due to play in her first London show very soon.
Looking ahead, the report outlines the importance of establishing new partnerships to ensure the programme’s sustainability and growth.
Speaking about the results, Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, said: “It’s hard to imagine Liverpool’s music scene without LIMF Academy. It’s an exemplar—an inclusive, industry-focused programme that has become a key pipeline of emerging talent.”
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, added: “LIMF Academy is a shining example of what happens when we invest in young people and believe in their potential. Over the past decade, it has not only launched careers but built a community rooted in creativity, resilience and opportunity. It’s a programme that reflects the very best of Liverpool’s cultural spirit.”
LIMF Academy alumni from 2021/22, Ni Maxine, concluded: “Being part of the Academy boosted my confidence and made me believe that I could have a career in the music industry. I applied because I wanted to gain a better understanding of the music industry, build my network to lay a strong foundation for my career and develop as an artist within a safe infrastructure. Funding supported me to work towards my goals. Working with a producer that I was introduced to through a production workshop taught me A LOT about the industry - particularly the major label space.”
You can download the full report here.
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