Name

Making Music

Legal name

The National Federation of Music Societies

Website

https://makingmusic.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Association Membership Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Membership services
• Music group insurance
• Group management software
• Leisure-time music support
• Music advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees ranging from £118 to £540 based on group income bands, with 50% discount for joining after June 30th. Full members pay lower rates; Associate members pay higher rates.
2. Group Insurance: Comprehensive music insurance packages (Bronze, Silver, Gold tiers) provided through broker Everywhen and underwritten by Covea Insurance plc. Premiums range from £25-£393 per 6-month period depending on membership type and income band. 93% of member groups purchase insurance.
3. Orchestra and Theatre Tax Relief Services: Premium paid-for service managing HMRC claims for Orchestra Tax Relief and Theatre Tax Relief on behalf of member groups. Groups have claimed over £1,000,000 through this service.
4. MM Platform Subscription: Yearly subscription for access to all-in-one online admin tool and website builder for group management.
5. Charity Registration Service: Premium paid-for service that applies to Charity Commission on behalf of groups. Full refund offered if charity status is not received.
6. MMSafe Safeguarding Service: Tailor-made child licensing service making it easier for groups to include young people in performances.
7. Corporate Membership and Advertising: Corporate membership packages and advertising space in Highnotes magazine, iNotes e-bulletin, and website to reach 4,000+ member groups.
8. PRS Collection Scheme: Discounted Performing Rights Society fees collection service with 5% discount for payment by December 12th.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Making Music is the UK association for leisure-time music groups, operating as a membership organization that delivers practical support, guidance, advocacy, insurance, and technology services to amateur and voluntary music ensembles. It offers tiered group membership, the MM Platform for group administration, specialist music insurance, and paid premium services such as Orchestra and Theatre Tax Relief claims, Charity Registration, PRS fee collection, and safeguarding support.

Product overview

Making Music operates as the UK association for leisure-time music groups, offering a portfolio of interconnected membership services rather than a single software product. The core MM Platform serves as an all-in-one group management tool handling subscriptions, payments, events, and member communications. This platform integrates with additional premium services including Orchestra Tax Relief, Theatre Tax Relief, and Charity Registration. Supporting the platform, the organization provides group insurance (Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers), PRS collection services, safeguarding support, and resources including Music Bank (sheet music exchange), Recommended Artists database, and a Find a Group directory. Broader member support encompasses advocacy campaigns, awards programs, the Highnotes magazine, iNotes newsletter, and networking through the Singing Network UK and Community Spaces Forum. The organization is the trading name of the National Federation of Music Societies (NFMS), founded in 1935, with 4,000 member groups representing approximately 228,000 music makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Group Membership Annual membership for leisure-time music groups (choirs, orchestras, bands, ensembles) providing access to member benefits, services, resources, and advocacy. Tiered by group income band, with discounts for new groups, youth groups, and affiliated organisations.
• MM Platform All-in-one online group management software subscription enabling music groups to manage subscriptions, take card payments, schedule rehearsals, track attendance, send reminders, manage events and ticket sales, catalogue sheet music, and access a website template with a dedicated members' area.
• Group Insurance (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Custom) Specialist insurance packages for leisure-time music groups covering public/products liability, employers liability, property, money, and cancellation/abandonment, offered in Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers with custom options for higher-income groups. 93% of member groups purchase this insurance.
• Orchestra Tax Relief and Theatre Tax Relief Service Premium service managing HMRC Orchestra Tax Relief and Theatre Tax Relief claims on behalf of member groups, helping instrumental and musical theatre groups reclaim production costs.
• Charity Registration Service Premium service that completes and submits charity registration applications to the Charity Commission on behalf of member groups, with a full refund offered if charity status is not received.
• PRS Collection Service Service enabling members to pay Performing Rights Society licensing fees through Making Music, offering a 5% discount for early payment by 12 December.
• MMSafe Safeguarding Service Tailor-made child licensing service making it easier for member groups to include young people in performances while meeting safeguarding requirements.
• Corporate Membership Enhanced business membership tier offering advertising and promotional access to the UK leisure-time music community via the website, newsletters, emails, magazine placements, and member event invitations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of 4,000 member groups choose Making Music group insurance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• UK Choir of the YearmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Corporate member competition celebrating choirs across UK. Applications open June 25, 2026 with finals at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, April 10, 2027. Supports The Choir With No Name charity.
• EverywhencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred insurance broker arranging group insurance for members. Everywhen is a trading style of Advisory Insurance Brokers Limited, authorized and regulated by FCA (reference 313250). Contact: 0118 334 8868 or [email protected]
• Covea Insurance plccoreOthersInsurer providing group insurance policies underwritten for Making Music members. Covea Insurance plc is authorized by PRA and regulated by FCA (Registration 202277).
• National Music CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaking Music team members serve as trustees. Umbrella organization for UK music sector representation.
• Music Libraries TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaking Music team members serve as trustees. Trust supporting music libraries for leisure-time music groups.
• Make Music Day UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest music celebration held annually on June 21. Making Music team members serve as trustees.
• Jazz Promoters NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for jazz promoters. Making Music team members serve as trustees.
• Singing Network UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree network hosted by Making Music for umbrella organisations working with singers and vocal groups.
• Community Spaces ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork hosted by Making Music bringing together owners and managers of spaces used by leisure-time music groups for rehearsals and performances.
• Music MarkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK Association for Music Education. Collaboration on music education advocacy, teacher recruitment/retention campaign 'Be the Inspiration' launching autumn 2026, and sector surveys.
• Advisory Insurance Brokers LimitedcoreOthersParent company of Everywhen. Authorized by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 313250). National Federation of Music Societies is an appointed representative.
• Sing IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 15% joining discount and 10% renewal discount to member groups.
• Jazz Promoters Network (Discount Partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 25% joining discount (2024) and 10% renewal discount.
• Chamber Music ScotlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 25% joining discount (2024) and 10% renewal discount.
• Welsh Association Of Male ChoirsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 15% joining discount and 10% renewal discount.
• Brass Bands WalesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 15% joining discount and 10% renewal discount.
• BMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 10% joining and renewal discount.
• Dementia Inclusive Singing NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 25% joining and renewal discount.
• Handbell Ringers Great BritainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliated organization offering 10% joining and renewal discount.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sing Ireland: Irish counterpart providing membership and advocacy for singing groups. Operates a near-identical leisure-time choral support model in a separate geography, currently a discount-partner of Making Music.
• Chamber Music Scotland: Scottish membership body supporting chamber music ensembles and audiences. Directly analogous to Making Music's remit but constrained to Scotland, and an affiliated discount partner.
• Community Music Wales: Wales-based membership/development organization supporting participatory music-making. Comparable audience and mission to Making Music but limited to the Welsh market.

Direct peers

• Music Mark: UK association for music education, formally partnered with Making Music on advocacy and teacher recruitment campaigns. Operates a similar membership-body model for a closely adjacent constituency (formal music education vs. leisure-time groups).
• Chorus America: US-based advocacy and service organization for choral groups — essentially the American analog of Making Music's choral constituency, with parallel programs in advocacy, professional development, and group support.
• Association of British Orchestras: Trade body for professional and orchestral sector in the UK; mirrors Making Music's advocacy-plus-services model but skews to professional orchestral institutions rather than amateur ensembles.

Emerging players

• Youth Music: UK charity funding music-making projects for children and young people. Adjacent in mission (music access/participation) and partially overlaps in constituency where Making Music's MMSafe safeguarding service is relevant.
• Sing Up: UK charity advocating for singing and vocal music, often overlapping with Making Music's choral membership base. Operates at smaller scale and with a more programmatic/advocacy-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Incorporated Society of Musicians: UK professional body for musicians and music educators. Provides membership services and advocacy similar in form to Making Music but addresses individual professional musicians rather than amateur groups.
• Musicians' Union: UK trade union for musicians offering membership, legal protection, and insurance products. Comparable membership-organization architecture, but with a labor/collective-bargaining focus rather than leisure ensemble support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MakingMusic_UK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Making Music