Today (Monday 22 April), Abbey Road Studios has announced details of a new collaboration between its annual Music Photography Awards and Birmingham-based music venue and charity B:Music. The month-long programme of activity is centered around an exhibition from the winning and shortlisted images from Abbey Road’s 2023 MPAs, alongside a series of free masterclasses, live music performances, panel discussions and more.

Formed in 2022, the Abbey Road MPAs champions emerging and undiscovered young photographers and celebrates the unforgettable, unique and unsung musical moments from the previous year. Ahead of this year’s competition, which launches on 29th May, B:Music will host a month-long exhibition of the 2023 nominees and winners.

Across nine categories, including Live and ICON, as well as Undiscovered and Hip Hop 50, the exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to view the photographs in a distinctive setting. A series of masterclasses and panel talks, led by local, established music photographers and MPAs alumni will also be running across the month, in addition to special performances from emerging Birmingham-based musicians.

Throughout the month-long residency, B:Music will be presenting performances from local and emerging talent from across the West Midlands, with performances from Credo Kampeta, Ezrae, Aayushi, Sarah Riches and BIMM Birmingham, immersed in the exhibition in the B:eats café at Symphony Hall and all covering some iconic tracks recorded at Abbey Road in their own unique ways. One of the rounds in the B:Music-supported Nashville Sounds in the Round performance will also have an Abbey Road focus too. The pinnacle will be on Friday 24th May when the B:Music Talent Development Showcase takes over the regular Free Jazz Friday slot, and the young photographers from the Abbey Road MPA programme will be in attendance to capture the performances – a real chance to show the next generation of musical and creative talent both on and off stage.

To find out more about the programme of activities and how to get involved visit: https://bmusic.co.uk/abbey-road-studios

Symphony Hall, which is a B:Music venue and charity, is the centerpiece in Birmingham’s Centenary Square and is widely considered to be one of the finest concert halls in the world. The venue hosts a wide variety of live music performances, ranging from world-renowned classical to rock and pop artists, as well as award-winning comedians.

Sally Davies, Managing Director, Abbey Road Studios says: “I couldn't be more thrilled to extend the reach of our Music Photography Awards beyond the doors of Abbey Road Studios and into the heart of Birmingham. It's a testament to our desire to celebrate creativity and culture throughout the UK and I'm excited to witness the fusion of music and visual art in this dynamic city."

Chris Proctor, Head of Programming at B:Music says: “I’m delighted that B:Music will be partnering with Abbey Road Studios to bring the Music Photography Awards exhibition to Birmingham. The opportunity for two iconic organisations to work together to champion talent both on and off stage was too good to miss, and we’re delighted that the next generation of music photography creatives and musicians will have the chance to swap and exchange experiences throughout the month-long residency at Symphony Hall. We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences to a range of workshops, masterclasses and performances, alongside the exhibition itself, and look forward to supporting the launch of this year’s Music Photography Awards too!”

Abbey Road’s Music Photography Awards returns for its third year this October, with six open categories available for prospective entries from 29th May. Please visit mpa.photo for further details.