BIMM Music Institute announce groundbreaking AI partnerships

BIMM Music Institute has taken a pioneering step in music education by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its curriculum. Backed by nearly £1 million in funding from Innovate UK’s Bridge AI Grant, BIMM is collaborating with five new cutting-edge AI partners to prepare students for the transformative impact of AI in the music industry.

This initiative builds on BIMM University’s acclaimed AI_Labs programme, which provides students with hands-on access to innovative AI tools and prepares them to lead in an evolving creative landscape. BIMM’s AI_Labs was launched in the summer of 2023.

BIMM Vice-Chancellor, David Jones-Owen, said this about the exciting news:

“This investment and our new partnerships put BIMM at the forefront of creative education. By integrating groundbreaking AI technologies into our teaching, we’re equipping our students to excel in a music industry that is rapidly evolving at the intersection of creativity and technology.”

Driving innovation with new partnerships

At the heart of BIMM’s vision are its five new strategic partnerships, each offering students access to industry-leading AI technologies:

• Voice-Swap: Specialists in advanced voice synthesis and transformation via their VST/AU plugin.
• Musiio by SoundCloud: Experts in AI-powered music analysis and curation.
• RoEx: Innovators in cutting-edge audio multitrack mixing and enhancement tools.
• SoundLabs: Developers of instant voice transformation technologies.
• Pixelynx: Building a global music ecosystem combining AI, gaming and web3.

These collaborations are designed to offer students unprecedented opportunities to explore and create with cutting-edge AI tools while addressing the challenges posed by AI’s integration into music production.

Pioneering ethical AI in music creation and rights protection

To navigate the ethical challenges of AI in music, BIMM is collaborating with DAACI, the inventors and developers of a comprehensive and ethical AI music ecosystem, and Lewis Silkin LLP, in a ground-breaking AI research programme funded by an Innovate UK grant.

The project aims to establish an ethical and transparent compliance mechanism for AI-generated music works. With nearly £1m in funding from the Innovate Bridge AI Grant, the project aims to address licensing uncertainties and promote fair treatment for creators and rights holders in the emerging Web3.0 world.

BIMM will contribute testing activities and specialist songwriting and production input, while Lewis Silkin LLP will offer vital market insight into ethical AI and sustainable reward models.

Expert insight

Warren Barkley, AI expert and BIMM Visiting Professor, said:

“AI is transforming the music industry faster than ever before. Through these partnerships, BIMM is ensuring its students not only learn the latest technologies but also contribute to the ethical and creative future of music-making.”

Tom Neild, Head of Partnerships at RoEx, said:

“RoEx is delighted to be part of BIMM’s AI_Labs initiative. Assistive AI tools are shaping the future of audio production, and we are excited to inspire and educate the next generation of industry leaders on this topic.
This collaboration will allow us to introduce our first-to-market multitrack mixing tool, Automix, alongside our audio analysis and enhancement product, Mix Check Studio.”

Preparing the next generation of creatives

With students from over 60 countries, BIMM is committed to equipping its graduates with the skills to thrive in a tech-driven music industry. Our AI_Labs programme and new partnerships ensure that BIMM students are at the forefront of innovation while preserving the authenticity of their artistry.