Michael Wynne

Role

Senior Lecturer & Course Leader, BA (Hons) Music Business: Michael leads the three-year BA Music Business program (Levels 4–6) at NTU. In this role he oversees a cohort of around 70 students and manages a team of teaching staff. He is the Course Leader responsible for curriculum delivery and quality, ensuring the course remains up-to-date with industry trends. Michael leads several core modules on the degree – including areas such as artist management and revenue streams – providing students with practical insight into the music industry. He has also spearheaded the re-validation of the Music Business curriculum to reflect changes in the music industry over the past decade and to modernise teaching practices in higher education.

In addition to his undergraduate leadership, Michael contributes to postgraduate education. He has been actively involved in delivery on the Masters in Music Production and Sound Engineering and Audio Production courses. He also serves as an academic mentor, guiding students in their professional development – for instance, through the Your Music Business Career module which prepares final-year students for entry into the creative industries. Michael’s role encompasses module leadership, personal tutoring, and ensuring an excellent student experience, blending academic rigor with real-world application.

Career overview

Further & Higher Education: Michael’s teaching career spans over two decades. He began in 2002 as a Programme Tutor in music subjects, then progressed to Castle College (Nottingham) as Academic Team Leader for Music & Media. In this capacity he coordinated a team of tutors and developed courses in music performance and technology, honing his leadership and curriculum design skills. From 2010 to 2016, he worked with Access to Music in various senior roles. These included serving as a Course Manager in Lincoln, where he managed and taught Level 3 Music Technology and Audio Engineering programs, and led a team of tutors delivering diverse subjects (from composition to rehearsal skills). He also took on the role of Lead Instructor for Music Apprenticeships, overseeing employer-based training and mentoring new instructors. During this period Michael gained extensive experience delivering apprenticeships and workplace-based learning, for which he earned a TAQA assessor qualification.

Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies/NTU: In 2016, Michael joined Confetti (formerly part of NTU) as a Higher Education Lecturer in Music. At Confetti he lectured across multiple HE courses (FdA, BSc, BA levels 4–6), leading modules in music business, music performance, industry practice, and marketing/branding. He also developed new curriculum content – notably creating a Level 6 Marketing & Branding module for the BA Music Performance course. His role, which he held allowed him to bridge practical industry knowledge with academic delivery in a creative institute setting.

Leadership and Mentoring: Across his career, Michael has frequently stepped into leadership positions. At Castle College, he not only taught but also managed staff development and performance in the department. At Access to Music, he coordinated multi-site programs and guided teams of tutors and mentors. He has been involved in course validations and quality assurance processes, ensuring programs meet educational standards and industry needs. Michael also holds a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), recognizing his professional practice in teaching and learning (achieved in 2021).

Freelance Work: Alongside his institutional roles, Michael has maintained a parallel freelance career as a musician and producer. He has been a self-employed music teacher/producer in Nottingham for over 20 years, running his own studio business. This ongoing professional practice complements his academic work, keeping him closely connected to the current music industry.

External activity

Music Production & Performance: Outside the classroom, Michael is an accomplished music producer and performer with a rich portfolio of creative work. He has run his own recording studio in Nottingham since 2000, providing services in music production, mastering, composition, and drum tuition. As a drummer and producer, he has toured extensively and appeared at major music festivals and venues across the UK and Europe. Over the years he has performed at prominent events such as Glastonbury Festival, Electric Picnic, Shambala, and Splendour, among many others. Michael has been a founding member or core contributor to several Nottingham-based musical groups – notably Skinny Sumo, Royal Gala, and Hhymn – through which he has released original music and honed his stage craft. With these projects he has shared stages with renowned acts (supporting artists like Kosheen, Orbital, and The Specials) and appeared at large-scale concerts, demonstrating the high calibre of his performance experience. He has also co-produced multiple EPs and recordings, working alongside respected producers in the industry. This active involvement in music creation and live performance keeps Michael deeply connected to the music business sector that he teaches about.

Community and Creative Initiatives: Michael is heavily engaged in local creative initiatives in Nottingham. He was a long-standing committee member of the Derby Road Regeneration Steering Group (2013 - 2019), a community-led project aimed at revitalizing Nottingham’s Derby Road area. In this role, he collaborates with local businesses and the City Council on initiatives to reduce vacant properties and boost the cultural appeal of the neighborhood. Michael has helped produce digital art displays in empty shop windows and is actively involved in developing a new summer festival to promote the street’s shops and creative businesses, generate positive publicity, and attract visitors. Additionally, Michael serves as a coordinator for the Canning Circus Creative Hub, an association of local artists and creative organizations based in the Canning Circus area of Nottingham. He has represented and organised the Hub’s members in dialogues with the City Council, working on building improvements and community engagement. He was instrumental in forming a tenants’ association there and is contributing to the establishment of a Community Interest Company to support the creative community’s long-term goals. Through these external activities, Michael demonstrates a strong commitment not only to the music scene but also to the wider creative and business community in his city.

Sponsors and collaborators

Educational Partners: Michael frequently collaborates with educational partners in developing and delivering music programs. He works closely with the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, NTU’s creative arts partner, especially in course design and validation for music business degrees. Prior to joining NTU, he also worked with Access to Music, where he led courses and apprenticeship programs, partnering with employers to train the next generation of music industry professionals. These roles have involved collaboration with academic colleagues, industry assessors, and institutions to ensure training meets sector needs.

Industry Collaborators: In his production career, Michael has worked with a number of producers and engineers on various recording projects. For example, he co-produced an EP with Greg Marshall at Confetti’s Electric Mayhem studios, combining expertise to create a polished release. His band Hhymn was signed to Denison Records, the Confetti Institute’s record label, indicating close collaboration with the label’s A&R and production teams during the making of their album. Throughout his projects, Michael has engaged with studio engineers, sound technicians, and fellow producers to bring musical works to fruition.