How to get signed by a record label

Two vinyls on top of record collection

Getting signed by a record label is a dream come true for many aspiring musicians, but it requires more than just talent. In today’s competitive music industry, it’s important to stand out, especially if you want to get signed. Whether you’re an independent artist or part of a band, understanding what record labels are looking […]

The Rhythm Studio bring their Rock & Roll Bootcamp to ACC London

rock n roll bootcamp band playing

The Rhythm Studio has partnered with Access Creative College to bring their successful Rock & Roll Bootcamp to our Whitechapel campus this October half term break. Running from Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November, young London creatives aged 8 to 16 will spend an intensive week making and producing music together, and honing their […]

ACC Alumni: Kat Chant

Kat Chant portrait

Media is one of our biggest pathways – home to some serious talent across animation and VFX, graphic design, videography, photography, content creation and more.  As you may have seen, we’ve recently launched our ‘Media Spotlight’ series to highlight media students and alumni who have contributed to an incredible zine from ACC Birmingham.  In Part […]

Blender vs Maya: What is the best student tool in 2026?

Young female student using 3D Modelling tool on computer

The art of 3D modelling began in the 1960s with simple wireframe models developed for computer graphics. In the 1970s, early software like Sketchpad introduced basic 3D object manipulation. Then, the 1980s saw advancements with Autodesk’s release of 3ds Max and CAD tools for industrial use. In the 1990s, 3D software like Maya and Softimage […]

ACC Alumni: Sam Nutting

Portrait of Sam Nutting

Media. It’s a wide-reaching term for a varied industry. Media is also one of our biggest pathways – home to some serious talent across animation and VFX, graphic design, videography, photography, content creation and more.  Our Birmingham media students, tutors and alumni have worked together to create an incredible media zine that you can view. […]

Kris Proctor – Music Progress Award Winner 2024

Kris Proctor - Music Progress Award Winner, playing the guitar

Our team recently caught up with Kris Proctor, Lincoln’s Music Progress Award Winner for 2024, to talk to him about his time at Access Creative College and his next steps after finishing his course.

Mitch Prestedge – Best Song/Composition Award Winner 2024

Image of Mitch Prestedge - Best Song/Composition Award Winner

Recently, we had a chat with Mitch Prestedge, Lincoln’s winner for ACC’s Best Song/Composition Award for 2024. We spoke to him about how he feels after his award win, his time at Access Creative, and his plans for the future. Hi Mitch, can you please tell us a bit more about yourself? My name is […]

How to become a sound designer

Music sound design hardware

Sound design is an important aspect of storytelling in films, games, music, and other media, creating immersive environments and emotional depth through the use of audio.  Whether you’re crafting eerie soundscapes for a horror film or enhancing the user experience in a video game, becoming a Sound Designer requires a mix of creativity, technical skills, […]

SoundCloud vs Spotify: Which is best for a new music artist?

Young woman listening to music on phone

We explore SoundCloud and Spotify to help you decide which might best serve your music career. Streaming has changed how artists distribute their music and reach audiences. With platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify leading the way, there have never been more opportunities for new and independent musicians.  The rise of SoundCloud  Is SoundCloud free? SoundCloud […]

Manchester Creative Educators and Beyond The Music Collaborate to Boost Grassroots Music

Beyond The Music - ACC

Access Creative College(ACC), Access Industry(AI) and dBs Institute(dBs) are teaming up with Beyond The Music, a Manchester music industry conference, to bring a series of workshops, showcases and talks to this year’s event. Beyond The Music takes place between the 9th and the 11th October, with events taking place at Aviva Studios as well as […]