Five opportunities for songwriters in March and April 2025

As we head into spring, now is a great time to increase those productivity levels and get yourself ahead of the game.

Helpfully, there’s a vast array of openings — from insightful education events to free music business courses — for songwriters of all levels and backgrounds to explore over the next two months. Here’s five of the best opportunities for songwriters in March and April.

Become a Co-Pilot mentee

When taking your next big career step, knowing which route to take and how to plan ahead can be crucial. That’s why having the guidance of a music industry mentor to bounce ideas off can be a complete game-changer.

Help Musicians’ Co-Pilot programme can provide exactly that. Designed to empower musicians to get the support they need, the programme provides its mentees with free one-to-one sessions with an industry professional, access to networking opportunities through regular peer-to-peer meet-ups and plenty of online resources and support.

Singer-songwriter and producer Alex Luke said the initiative opened up new pathways for his own artistic development: ‘It’s given me a foundation strategy. I now have more knowledge in my arsenal going forward. I can look back and think, “What did I do last time and how do I build on that again?” and that’s so valuable.’

Applications are open to songwriters over the age of 18 who have earned money from their music in the last two years, with the closing date coming on 14 March.

Explore AVA London’s packed programme

Billed as the UK’s leading music, culture and visual arts festival and conference, AVA will ‘bring together innovators and the brightest minds to push the boundaries of contemporary culture’ during their 2025 multi-venue event in the capital.

Held over three days, AVA London 2025 will feature keynote lectures, masterclasses, raves and cutting-edge live shows, while over 90 speakers will take part across 30 conference sessions between 20-22 March. You can see the full schedule here.

Tickets for AVA London 2025 are on sale now, with a 50% discount available to students and people from the low-income community.

Boost your knowledge at Above The Noise

Bristol Beacon have partnered with AIM (Association of Independent Music) for Above The Noise, a brand new one-day music industry event on 3 April. Designed for anyone actively working in music to help them connect with the wider industry, the event will provide the inspiration, advice and insight needed to boost your skills.

You can expect to hear from a selection of top industry experts who have been handpicked from AIM’s independent music network, while key support organisations such as PRS Foundation and Help Musicians will be on hand to provide a series of talks and workshops. There will also be information on funding options as well as professional development opportunities.

More details will be announced about Above The Noise in the coming weeks, but you can find out more about the event here.

Apply for funding through the Alan Surtees Trust

Geared towards songwriters who specialise in folk or traditional music, the 2025 round of funding from the Alan Surtees Trust is now open. A total of four £2000 grants will be awarded to musicians and songwriters aged between 16 and 30 who can demonstrate exceptional skill and talent within their chosen genre. 

Established in memory of the late Alan Surtees, who was the co-founder and director of Shrewsbury Folk Festival, the funding can be used to go towards the cost of mentoring, tuition, hiring rehearsal spaces, buying instruments or production equipment, or even project research. The deadline for applications is April 30.

Past recipient Rhiannon Kenny said the opportunity was crucial in developing her live show. ‘The support enabled us to elevate our music and live performances to new heights,’ she explained. ‘We were incredibly grateful to the trust for selecting us and for its continuous support of artists. We can’t wait to showcase our project and bring our vision to life.’ 

Apply to perform at Reeperbahn Festival 2025

Taking place each year in the bustling city of Hamburg, Reeperbahn brings together exciting new music talent and industry professionals from across the globe. As well as their packed four-day live music programme, the festival is renowned for their curated industry panels and networking events. When you also factor in their commitment to diversity and sustainability, there’s a clear reason why the festival has become a leading event in the new music world.

Fancy performing at Reeperbahn 2025? Applications are open now — all you need to do is fill out this application form, which has space for a personal cover letter, bio and information about your latest releases. 

You can also check out M’s Festival Application Guide for 2025 to see where else you can apply to perform this year.