At its heart, music is all about connecting with other people, speaking to them through lyrics or melodies.
In today’s musical landscape, you can’t be a lone wolf. Collaboration opens doors to new audiences, opportunities, and genres that can completely transform your career.
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Working with another artist or music professional has many wonderful creative benefits: you can explore different genres, discover new musical techniques, and embrace opportunities to experiment and innovate, and even boost your brand.
The history of musical collaboration
Possibly the most famous musical collaboration is David Bowie and Queen’s ‘Under Pressure’ (1981), a timeless classic that brought together two of the biggest forces in rock.
In the 1990s, hip hop entered what many consider its golden era of collaboration. Artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg defined the sound of a generation with tracks like ‘Still D.R.E.’
With the rise of social media and global connectivity, artists no longer need to be in the same room – or even the same country – to collaborate. Digital tools have made remote collaborations not only possible but increasingly common.
Some of the most iconic collaborations of the 21st century include:
- Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams – ‘Get Lucky’
- Avicii & Coldplay – ‘Sky Full of Stars’
- Rihanna & Calvin Harris – ‘We Found Love’
- Lady Gaga & Beyoncé – ‘Telephone’
BIMM band Wooden Dog rehearsing for an upcoming gig.
How can collaboration help with marketing?
- Exposure to new audiences: Collaboration offers greater visibility in the music world. Whether you’re working with an artist in the same genre or a different one, you’ll be exposed to their fan base.
- A stronger portfolio: Collabs show versatility. From guest vocals to full co-produced projects, each collaboration adds a unique layer to your artistic identity.
- More performance opportunities: working with other artists can lead to joint performances, guest appearances, and festival slots.
- Building social & cultural capital: collaborations get people talking. They show you’re part of something bigger and help you connect with wider music and fan communities.
- New revenue streams: collaboration can lead to more radio play, higher streaming numbers, and joint merch opportunities – especially when working across genres.
BIMM student Leah Wilcox on a studio trip with a live band of Performance students/alumni.
How we do it at BIMM
No matter what course you’re studying, collaboration is at the heart of the BIMM experience. You’ll have the chance to work on creative projects with like-minded people – whether that means producing each other’s music, designing album artwork, or creating marketing content. On campus, collaboration happens every day.
Students form bands, organise live events, and perform together at BIMM gigs. At our Brighton campus, students even run their own independent record label, Pool Valley Records, which has been going strong for over seven years.
BIMM Music Institute is partnered with MetFilm School, MetStudios, and Performers College, providing unrivalled opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. For example, Birmingham’s ‘Bands of BIMM’ initiative allows you to have your live performance professionally captured by student filmmakers.
Are you ready to collaborate?
Join our lively creative community, where musicians team up with fellow artists, producers, filmmakers, and more to explore their passions and develop their craft. Explore our courses and find your place at BIMM.
