Music Patron is the ambitious new online platform connecting people with new music.
At Music Patron we believe that music is created to move us, to connect us, to provoke thought and feeling. It’s made to be listened to, talked about and appreciated by everyone.
But the music industry is experiencing difficult times. Low streaming fees, public funding cuts and the pandemic have dealt a serious blow to the availability of new music. Composers have far fewer opportunities to take risks and create boundary-pushing work that enriches our culture. And when new music is commissioned, it’s often performed just once, remaining out of reach for most audiences.
Our goal is to advance public appreciation of new music by providing a platform that makes the creativity of the UK’s most exciting contemporary composers discoverable and accessible. We support composers to develop their practice, and to educate people in the process of making new music that will have lasting cultural resonance.
Hear it from our honorary patrons
“Music Patron ensures composers can continue to create by inviting music lovers to connect with and truly support them.”
Judith Weir CBE
Composer
We’re building a community of thousands of Music Patrons who want to play a part in advancing this vital art form through regular monthly donations.
Together, we’re providing freedom for composers to take creative risks, and to engage the public as they develop their artistic identity.
Patrons choose which composer to support, and experience their creative journey from the front row.
People everywhere gain access and deeper appreciation of exciting new music.
Will you join us and become a Music Patron?
Hear it from our honorary patrons
“Music Patron is an intriguing and unusual way for individuals to involve themselves in something with lasting creative value.”
Howard Goodall CBE
Composer, broadcaster
Get involved in the future of music
There are several ways to support.
Patrons can support one or more composers with a small monthly donation, enabling them to create and share new music.
Monthly patron donations go into a dedicated fund to support the work of their chosen composer.
With this new collective funding approach, composers regain freedom to create new music and show the world how they work.
Patrons become active participants in the music-making process: they receive exclusive updates and a unique window into the composer’s world, while supporting creativity and accessibility that will ultimately enrich us all.
Patrons can also support the work we do at Music Patron directly, with monthly or one-off donations.
Hear it from our patrons
“It’s wonderful to be welcomed into a composer’s world. Supporting an artist on Music Patron feels like being invited into their studio after hours. Exploring the world through a composer’s outlook is like nothing else.”
Patron
A trusting relationship with transparent funding
There are no hidden fees: patron donations go directly into dedicated funds for composers. You can cancel or switch your support at any time.
Music Patron’s operating costs are covered in several ways:
- Gift Aid donations
- Regular donations via the Amplify Music Patron fund
- One-off donations via the Support Music Patron fund
- Optional donations that patrons can choose to add to their monthly contribution
Anthony Bolton
The man behind the idea
Music Patron is the brainchild of composer, financier and philanthropist Anthony Bolton.
“Music Patron facilitates the collection of smaller amounts from a much larger number of people, which, together, can add up to a meaningful income for a composer.
Additionally, Music Patron creates direct relationships between audiences and composers in a new and empowering way.
Patrons will experience the rewards of supporting a creative process that leads to exciting new music reaching the world.”
Meet the Team
We’re passionate about changing the landscape for composers and committed to removing barriers, making contemporary music more accessible for people everywhere.
Augusta Quiney
CEO
Heather Roche
Platform and Community Manager
join as a composer
Are you a composer?
Recruitment for new composers to join the Music Patron cohort is now open.
Music Patron brings together the traditional concept of patronage with the impact of grassroots collective giving. Composers build a community of patrons, each contributing to a dedicated fund that provides them with space for experimentation, to engage with their communities, and to create new work for public benefit.
We are excited to work with composers who want to build a community of supportive patrons, and share their creative process with the world.
