MIBI began life as ‘The National Youth Rock and Pop Awards’ in 1997, at Earls Court in London. It was a joint venture between Yamaha and News International Corp (NIC) with Virgin Radio as media partner. NIC owned the Times Educational Supplement (TES) which provided the media coverage that generated national support from teachers and schools.
The judges then included Phil Collins, Mark Radcliffe, Harvey Goldsmith, Jeremy Silver (then BPI Chief Exec), broadcaster and presenter with Virgin Radio, Richard Skinner. The winners preformed live at the prestigious awards ceremony which was held at Earls Court which attracted an audience of up to 1000 people including major artists and music industry professionals.
In its third year Chris Martin was one of the winners and he has remained actively loyal and supportive joining the judging panel in 2003.
After many successful years, the competition came to a halt as its major funding sponsor, Midland Bank, could no longer provide the finances required to run the entire event.
Several years later, Mark Featherstone-Witty, Chief Executive of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, (LIPA), contacted Yamaha / DJPR and suggested the competition be revived – it was agreed and re-launched as Make It, Break It, now also known as MIBI.
Under the direction of Mark Featherstone-Witty and his team (including Kaya Herstad and Deborah Orson), the Make It, Break It Awards has become renowned as one of the UK’s most prestigious songwriting competitions for 14 to 19 year olds.
With Yamaha remaining a founding firm partner, alongside DJPR, major new partners now include EMI Music Publishing and HMV.
The aims of the competition remain the same, “to provide encouragement and support through a series of on-site music academy master-classes and to create an opportunity for young-talented songwriters to get their music heard by the music industry”.
Yamaha and our partners want a non-commercial activity that adds to the learning of the applicants.
The awards ceremony takes place at LIPA and is held in the Paul McCartney auditorium.
Paul MCartney is LIPA’s loyal lead Patron.