Third Ear Music

What Third Ear Music does

Third Ear Music is an independent UK-based contemporary music production and commissioning organisation co-founded by Julia Haferkorn and Ed McKeon, headquartered in High Wycombe and serving individual patrons, arts organisations, cultural institutions, and academic partners across the UK and internationally. The company's core service is end-to-end music commissioning facilitation: shaping client briefs, matching them with appropriate composers (no fixed roster, no conflicts of interest), negotiating contracts, overseeing the creative relationship, and arranging performance, publishing, recording, and promotion. Beyond commissioning, Third Ear produces and co-produces a portfolio of contemporary and experimental music projects spanning festivals (Stockhausen Festival 2012, Frontiers Festival 2014, Heiner Goebbels in Birmingham), touring productions (Kraftwerk Uncovered, Apollo, Górecki: Polish Spirituals, Double Trio), multimedia works (Fuga Perpetua, Unusual Ingredients, Dead Symphony), and thought-leadership symposiums at venues such as Southbank Centre.

The business model is project-based and hybrid. Revenue is generated through commission fees (typically negotiated per project, with a Gift Aid scheme where £2,000 becomes £2,500 for UK taxpayers), public grant funding from Arts Council England and the Arts & Humanities Research Council, co-production splits with international partners (e.g., Magà Global Arts for Fuga Perpetua), and ancillary income from symposiums, recordings, and broadcast relationships (BBC Radio 3). Pricing is bespoke and quote-based, with multi-year contracts for larger festival productions. The organisation has no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, operating as a founder-led specialist consultancy with 11-50 employees. Its geographic footprint extends across the UK and into Europe (Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy), North America (USA), Africa (Kenya via refugee-content project), and the Middle East (Israel), though revenue recognition is concentrated in the UK market. Customer acquisition is driven by word-of-mouth, industry reputation, and direct consultative engagement through the two founders, supported by a website, newsletter, X (Twitter) presence, and active participation in industry symposiums.

Name

Third Ear Music

Legal name

Third Ear Music

Website

https://thirdear.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Third Ear Music is a UK-based independent music production and commissioning organisation that produces contemporary and experimental music events, festivals, and multimedia projects for individual patrons, arts organisations, cultural institutions, and academic partners across the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Production and Commissioning Services

NAICS

Other Sound Recording Industries (512290)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Programming & MIDI Production (MPAIAHAH)

Keywords

• Music commissioning services
• Contemporary music production
• Arts festival production
• Experimental music events
• Mixed media performances

Headquarters

HQ city

High Wycombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Third Ear Music is an independent UK music production and commissioning organization that helps individuals and organizations commission bespoke contemporary music works. The company connects clients with composers, manages the full commissioning lifecycle from initial idea and brief development through to negotiation, performance and documentation, and produces contemporary and experimental music festivals, multimedia events, and mixed-media projects.

Product overview

Third Ear Music is a music producing and commissioning organization, not a software product company. They offer music commissioning services (connecting clients with composers), organize symposiums, and produce a portfolio of music projects and productions. Their core service is helping individuals and organizations commission bespoke music works, guiding the process from initial idea through to finished work and performance. Alongside commissioning, they produce and coproduce various music events and festivals including Frontiers Festival, Stockhausen Festival, and various multimedia performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Commissioning Services A consultancy and facilitation service helping individuals and organizations commission bespoke music works; Third Ear shapes client ideas into briefs, identifies and matches suitable composers, manages the creative relationship, negotiates fees, and oversees the process from concept through to performance and documentation.
• Symposiums Events and discussion programs bringing together music professionals for talks on commissioning, arts media, and contemporary music culture, organized and presented by Third Ear as standalone industry gatherings.
• Frontiers Festival A multi-day contemporary music festival curated and produced by Third Ear in partnership with Birmingham Conservatoire, featuring performances, exhibitions, and cross-disciplinary programming.
• Fuga Perpetua A total artwork combining a virtuosic music ensemble, surround-sound installation, video projections and a vocal crowd, with refugees as leading storytellers; produced by Third Ear with international co-producers.
• Stockhausen Festival A festival of Karlheinz Stockhausen's work featuring performances, interviews and talks from leading musicians, academics and commentators, produced by Third Ear as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
• 20 Pianos A Matthew Herbert composition featuring stories of twenty unique pianos from around the world, using bespoke software to transform tables into virtual pianos; produced by Third Ear for the New Music Biennial.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

53 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stockhausen StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnered with Stockhausen Stiftung for the Festival of Stockhausen's work as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, linked to Birmingham Opera Company's world premiere staging of Mittwoch aus Licht.
• Birmingham Opera CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinked to Birmingham Opera Company's world premiere staging of Mittwoch aus Licht as part of the Stockhausen Festival production.
• mac birminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts centre in Birmingham that partnered with Third Ear for the Stockhausen Festival production.
• Goethe InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman cultural institute that partnered with Third Ear for the Stockhausen Festival, bringing German cultural programming to UK audiences.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder of Third Ear's projects including the Stockhausen Festival, Cultural Olympiad events, and ongoing commissioning programs.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Stockhausen Festival, working with Birmingham Conservatoire to produce festival events.
• Birmingham ConservatoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner in numerous productions including Frontiers Festival, Heiner Goebbels Festival, and ongoing commissioning work. Birmingham Conservatoire provides institutional support and student involvement opportunities.
• Royal Musicological AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic organization that partnered with Third Ear for the Stockhausen Festival programming.
• Institute for Musical ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute that documented the Stockhausen Festival, providing academic documentation and scholarly context.
• Southbank CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey London venue partner for Third Ear's symposium program, hosting 'The Dark Arts? Media, Culture & Spin' symposium and other events.
• Birmingham City UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution of Birmingham Conservatoire, co-presenting Frontiers Festival and supporting ongoing music production work.
• Ensemble MeitarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTel Aviv-based contemporary music ensemble that collaborated on Fuga Perpetua project, performing the virtuosic musical components of this total artwork combining ensemble music, sound installation, and video projections.
• Magà Global Arts (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian production company serving as lead producer for Fuga Perpetua, bringing international co-production expertise.
• Teatro Comunale L. Pavarotti ModenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian co-production partner for Fuga Perpetua, presenting performances at this opera house in Modena.
• Brighton FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK festival presenting Fuga Perpetua as part of their 2016 programming.
• Nottingham Lakeside Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK venue partner presenting Fuga Perpetua as part of their music programming.
• Arts & Humanities Research CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK research council providing funding support for Fuga Perpetua and academic partnerships including Midlands3Cities Doctoral Training Partnership.
• Pacefuturo Onlus (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian NGO founded by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, coordinating refugee participation and filming in Kenya for Fuga Perpetua.
• UNHCR Video UnitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations refugee agency providing video and audio recordings of refugee interviews and camps for inclusion in Fuga Perpetua.
• Birmingham ConservatoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing PhD research support through Tychonas Michailidis and technical expertise for sound installation development.
• EFG London Jazz FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor London jazz festival hosting the Double Trio tour featuring Noszferatu and Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio.
• Jazzlines BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham-based jazz programming organization presenting the Double Trio tour performance.
• BBC Radio 3coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUK public broadcaster providing radio broadcasts of Double Trio performances on Hear and Now and Jazz on 3 programs.
• Library of BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham public library hosting Frontiers Festival exhibitions and performances including the SCORE graphic scores exhibition.
• Town Hall Symphony Hall BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Birmingham concert venue partner for Frontiers Festival performances.
• Ikon Gallery BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContemporary art gallery hosting Frontiers Festival performances and events.
• Whitechapel GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon art gallery co-presenting The Voice and The Lens festival exploring voice and film with Third Ear.
• Spitalfields MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon music festival co-presenting The Voice and The Lens as part of their Summer Festival programming.
• BBC Performing Arts FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Ear wrote about commissioning for the BBC Performing Arts Fund blog, sharing expertise on commissioning practices.
• London Symphony Orchestra SoundhubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Ear advised on LSO Soundhub program for early career composers, bringing commissioning expertise to this development initiative.
• NMC RecordingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Ear sits on the Board of NMC Recordings, the contemporary music recording label, providing governance and strategic guidance.
• PRS for Music FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK music rights organization supporting Third Ear's commissioning projects including Cultural Olympiad commissions and New Music Biennial.
• Sound and MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK organization supporting contemporary music; Third Ear wrote The Composer's Toolkit for them and collaborated on touring programs.
• New Music BiennialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird Ear is the only organization to have received support for commissions for both Cultural Olympiad New Music 20x12 and New Music Biennial programs.
• Oxford Contemporary MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford-based contemporary music organization presenting 20 Pianos premiere by Matthew Herbert.
• Southbank CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor London arts centre hosting 20 Pianos performance as part of the New Music Biennial showcase.
• Glasgow UNESCO City of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlasgow's UNESCO City of Music designation hosting 20 Pianos performance.
• mac BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham arts centre co-presenting the Heiner Goebbels Festival featuring UK premiere of Walden.
• Science Museum LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Museum hosting Kraftwerk Uncovered and Apollo tour performances, combining science and music programming.
• Liverpool PhilharmonicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor concert hall presenting Kraftwerk Uncovered tour performance.
• Royal Northern College of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester conservatoire hosting Kraftwerk Uncovered performance.
• IcebreakercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK contemporary music ensemble producing Apollo and Kraftwerk Uncovered tours with Third Ear's production support.
• Adam Mickiewicz InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish cultural institute supporting the Górecki: Polish Spirituals tour tribute program.
• Polish Cultural InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based Polish cultural organization co-presenting Górecki tribute tour with Durham Cathedral, Kings Place, and other venues.
• Polish Radio ChoircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish national choir performing the Górecki tribute program touring UK venues.
• Durham CathedralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric cathedral venue presenting Polish Radio Choir Górecki performance.
• Royal Liverpool PhilharmonicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiverpool concert hall presenting Górecki tribute performance.
• Artwise CuratorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuratorial organization leading Pandamonium 2 project for WWF's 50th anniversary, with Third Ear commissioning Jennifer Walshe.
• Kings Place LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon concert venue hosting various Third Ear produced performances including Margaret Leng Tan and MANIFESTOS.
• Flatpack Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham film festival partnering with Frontiers Festival for cross-disciplinary programming.
• Annie GosfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown New York composer commissioned for Floating Messages and Fading Frequencies premiere.
• Athelas Sinfonietta CopenhagenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenmark's leading new music ensemble collaborating with Annie Gosfield on Floating Messages premiere and UK tour.
• Dartington ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevon arts organization providing residency that developed the Floating Messages project.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival: One of the UK's flagship international contemporary music festivals, commissioning and producing new works from global composers. Closely comparable in programming philosophy, commissioning emphasis and audience targeting.
• NMC Recordings: UK contemporary music recording label that releases new commissions. Third Ear holds a Board seat at NMC, reflecting the close relationship between commissioning/production organisations and dedicated recording infrastructure for new work.
• Birmingham Contemporary Music Group: Birmingham-based contemporary music ensemble that commissions and produces new works alongside partner festivals. Shares Third Ear's commissioning focus, Birmingham institutional ties and contemporary-music audience.
• Kings Place: London concert venue with a strong contemporary music programming strand, hosting Third Ear productions including MANIFESTOS and Margaret Leng Tan. Comparable as a curatorial commissioning and presenting partner for new-music activity in the UK capital.
• London Sinfonietta: UK's leading contemporary music ensemble, regularly commissioning new works from composers and producing tours and festivals. Highly comparable to Third Ear given shared commissioning expertise and Ed McKeon's prior role as its Development Manager.
• Spitalfields Music: London-based summer festival presenting contemporary music and cross-arts programming. Co-presented The Voice and The Lens with Third Ear and operates a similar commissioning + festival production model aimed at UK new-music audiences.
• Britten Pears Foundation / Snape Maltings: Major UK arts organization producing contemporary music commissions, festivals and artist development programmes at Snape Maltings. Operates a comparable blend of commissioning, festival production and curated residencies.
• Sound and Music: UK advocacy and development organization for contemporary music, supporting composers, commissioners and audiences. Directly comparable to Third Ear through shared focus on new-music commissioning infrastructure; Third Ear authored The Composer's Toolkit for Sound and Music.
• Southbank Centre: London's largest arts centre and a key commissioning and presenting partner for contemporary music. Has hosted multiple Third Ear productions (symposiums, 20 Pianos, Górecki Polish Spirituals) and operates overlapping curatorial ambitions.
• Oxford Contemporary Music: Contemporary music presenter within Music at Oxford, programming commissions and new-music performances. Directly comparable given Ed McKeon's prior directorship and joint work on Matthew Herbert's 20 Pianos.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thirdearmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/third-ear-music-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Third Ear Music