What Abram Wilson does

EQTY in Music is a UK-registered charity (No. 1158781) and company limited by guarantee (No. 08313916), headquartered in Manchester, England, and operating across North England and London. The organisation, formerly known as Abram Wilson and rebranded in 2026, delivers two artist-led programmes targeted at musicians from racially minoritised and working-class backgrounds. Future Sound is a music education programme for 11–16 year-olds delivered through partner schools, comprising live performance assemblies, careers Q&A sessions, and small group workshops, and reportedly reaches more than 3,000 young people annually. Beyond the Mix is a career development programme for early-career jazz-inspired musicians, offering mentorship, industry access, and paid performance opportunities.

The business model is donation-based and non-commercial; the charity does not sell products or services and does not operate a pricing model, relying instead on grants, donations, and partner support (including a publicly disclosed relationship with the BRIT Trust). Programme delivery is channelled through a network of partner schools — Co-op Academy North Manchester and Co-op Academy Bebington are named — and through direct engagement with musicians and mentors. Reported impact metrics include a 76% improvement in musical skills, an 85% improvement in teamwork skills, an 82% desire for more music in school, a 125% increase in GCSE music uptake, and a 55% rise in tuition participation at partner schools. The team is small (approximately 10 employees) under CEO Mercy, with delivery supplemented by an informal network of industry patrons and artist-mentors including Nitin Sawhney, Gilles Peterson, Sans Soucis, and Oscar Jerome.

Name

Abram Wilson

Legal name

EQTY in Music

Website

https://abramwilson.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EQTY in Music is a UK-registered charity that delivers artist-led music education for 11–16 year-olds and career support for early-career jazz-inspired musicians from minoritised backgrounds, operating through partner schools in North England and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education & Nonprofit Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performance Coaching & Competition Preparation (Auditions, Recitals) (EDAMANAL), Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

Keywords

• Music education programs
• Youth music mentorship
• Career development
• Community music initiatives
• Arts education charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EQTY in Music (formerly Abram Wilson) is a UK-registered charity that delivers free music education and career development programmes to musicians from minoritised backgrounds. Its Future Sound programme engages 11-16 year-olds in North England and London through school assemblies, workshops, and careers Q&A sessions, while Beyond the Mix provides mentorship, industry access, and paid performance opportunities for emerging jazz-inspired musicians from racially minoritised and working-class backgrounds. The charity is funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

EQTY in Music operates as a unified charitable organization offering two distinct music education and career development programmes. Future Sound serves as the flagship education initiative targeting young people (11-16 years old) in schools across North England and London, while Beyond the Mix provides career support and mentorship for emerging jazz-inspired musicians from minoritised backgrounds. Together, these programmes form a comprehensive pathway from youth education through to professional career development in the music industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Future Sound Artist-led music education programme for 11-16 year-olds in North England and London, co-designed with young people and partner schools. Reaches 3,000+ young people annually through live performance assemblies, careers Q&A sessions, and small group workshops.
• Beyond the Mix Career development programme supporting emerging jazz-inspired musicians from racially minoritised and working-class backgrounds. Provides mentorship, industry access, and paid performance opportunities to help artists build sustainable careers in the music industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of participants improved musical skills
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Partner SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-design and deliver Future Sound music education programmes with schools in North England and London. Schools include Co-op Academy North Manchester and Co-op Academy Bebington, where programmes have driven significant increases in music uptake and participation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Help Musicians: Large UK charity providing health, welfare, and career support to professional musicians across genres — overlaps with Beyond the Mix's career support remit but operates at significantly larger national scale and broader scope.
• Youth Music: National UK funder investing in music-making projects for children and young people experiencing inequality — comparable beneficiary focus but operates primarily as a grant-maker rather than direct programme deliverer.
• The BRIT School: UK's leading free performing arts and technology school for 14–19 year olds, supported by the BRIT Trust — shares the BRIT Trust funder relationship and music education mission, but as a much larger, formal institution rather than a small charity.

Direct peers

• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain: Charity identifying and developing talented young musicians aged 13–19 from across the UK through orchestral training and progression routes — comparable youth music talent development focus, though at a higher classical specialisation.
• Drake Music: UK charity breaking down barriers to music-making for disabled people through inclusive music education, technology, and artist development — comparable small-charity model focused on dismantling access barriers in music.
• Sistema Scotland (Big Noise): Scottish charity using ensemble music education to drive social change for children in disadvantaged communities — comparable model of artist-led, school-delivered music education targeted at underrepresented young people.
• Tomorrow's Warriors: UK charity developing jazz talent from racially minoritised and working-class backgrounds through mentorship, performance opportunities, and industry access — a near-mirror of Beyond the Mix and the most directly comparable peer.
• London Music Masters: UK music education charity delivering instrumental tuition, ensemble performance, and progression pathways for young people, including those from underrepresented backgrounds — directly comparable to Future Sound's youth education remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-abram-wilson-foundation-for-creative-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Abram Wilson