Specialist music business in Test Valley awarded £750 grant from the Council
A new music production business in Test Valley has been awarded a £750 Business Incentive Grant from Test Valley Borough Council to support its launch and early development.
MW Composer, founded by Michael Walters is a specialist music production business focused on creating original music for the film, television and advertising industries. A former Director of Music for the British Army Air Corps, Michael left the military in 2015 and has since worked in a variety of roles. After years of composing part-time, demand reached the point where he made the decision to turn it into a full-time business.
MW Composer has three strands: writing to brief for publishers who license music in film, TV and advertising, composing bespoke scores for independent short and feature films, and developing a boutique catalogue of music for the Defence sector. Since starting the business, Michael has received no fewer than 6 ‘Best Score’ awards on the film festival circuit, and his catalogue of production music has been licensed to shows broadcast on Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime, BBC, ITV and other global mainstream channels.
The grant will help provide contingency funding for studio equipment, including a focus on the ability to work whilst travelling.
Michael said: “I’m really pleased to finally be able to turn my love of music into a business. I have always enjoyed composing, and after years of doing it alongside other work, it feels incredibly rewarding to now focus on it full-time as my own business. This grant from the council is a real help as I build my catalogue and prepare for some exciting opportunities ahead.”
Mid Test Ward Councillor Alison Johnston said: “It’s inspiring to see someone with Michael’s background and talent take that step and bring something unique to the local economy. The Business Incentive Grant is here to give entrepreneurs a helping hand as they get established, and I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support him on this journey.”
Test Valley Borough Council is committed to supporting local businesses through various initiatives and grants. The Business Incentive Grant is designed to help new businesses located in Test Valley achieve their goals and contribute to the local economy. You must apply for the grant within eight weeks of starting to trade, and the Council will award the money once you have been up and running for a minimum of six months.