2025 year in review: celebrating the BIMM community
Taking a moment to recap all of our highlights from the past year always solidifies how special our BIMM community is. From taking part in industry events and masterclasses to earning professional and artistic success, our students, alumni, and staff have been making an impact across the creative industries.
Here are some of our favourite moments of 2025:
Events and festivals
In 2025, we got involved in a lot of festivals and events showcasing the work of the BIMM community. For performers, these opportunities gave them wider audiences and bigger platforms, while many more students worked behind the scenes gaining hands-on industry experience.
The Great Escape
Brighton came alive in May as BIMM students took centre stage at The Great Escape 2025, performing in official showcases, busking on Jubilee Street, and featuring in multiple venue line-ups. As well as performing, BIMM Brighton students were involved with running stages, creating content, and networking with industry professionals.
SXSW London Roadshow
BIMM partnered with SXSW London to host the SXSW London Roadshow in Bristol, Manchester, and Birmingham, bringing a programme of live performances, talks, and panel discussions to our campuses. Industry leaders and creatives explored key topics such as mentoring, innovation, and the future of the creative industries, and there were plenty of opportunities for students to perform, attend sessions, and engage directly with influential voices shaping the sector.
Reeperbahn Festival
BIMM students took part in Reeperbahn Festival, a four-day music and cultural event in Hamburg that is one of Europe’s largest club festivals and music industry platforms. We also partnered with FlixTrain to create a unique performance opportunity for our students, as they performed live onboard the train from Berlin to Hamburg.
Student and alumni success
2025 was packed with inspiring success stories from across the BIMM community, with individuals achieving recognition on global stages, securing industry roles, and innovating within music.
Andrew McKinney
Course Leader Andrew McKinney performed on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series with Pulp. He has also been touring globally with the band on their ‘Here Comes More’ tour in support of their 2025 album More.
Kanako Yamamoto
Kanako studied at BIMM London. in 2025, she performed at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, supporting Alec Benjamin, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey.
Megan Wyn
BIMM Manchester’s Megan Wyn supported Alanis Morissette at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, performing to an audience of 30,000 people as part of an all-female support lineup.
Mia Kray
Mia graduated from BIMM London this year and during her time with us, worked as part of the production team on the twelfth season of Love Island: Aftersun, working closely with Maya Jama and gaining valuable experience within high-profile television production.
Oscar Collis
While studying Music Production at BIMM Bristol, Oscar explored emerging AI music tools. This led to a full-time role at music tech company DAACI, where he helped shape how artists create with technology.
Graduation
Graduation remains one of the most meaningful moments in the BIMM calendar. This year, ceremonies celebrated all the achievements, growth, and resilience of our graduating cohorts as they stepped confidently into their next chapter.
As we move into 2026, our momentum continues. With new projects, partnerships, and opportunities on the horizon, we are excited to see how the BIMM community continues to grow, evolve, and redefine what is possible in the creative industries.
