As we begin a new year, we’re looking back on pointblank music school’s remarkable journey. For over 30 years, pointblank has been driven by one simple passion: music. Founded and run by musicians for musicians, it has empowered generations of creatives while constantly pushing the boundaries of music technology. This is the story of how a humble studio grew into a world-leading music education provider, and a celebration of the milestones along the way.
Humble Beginnings (1994)
Our story begins in a small riverside studio in Greenwich, London. In 1994, Rob Cowan, bass player for Honeychile (signed to Sony), set up his own recording studio. Rob’s love for dance music and production quickly turned the studio into a hub for aspiring artists. He would let people sit in on recording sessions and eagerly explain the equipment and techniques. Before long, what started as Rob sharing tips one-on-one grew into weekend ‘crash courses’ on how to mix and produce tracks. With a Mackie mixing desk, an Atari ST computer, and samplers, he taught how to create a song from start to finish; setting the foundation for pointblank’s future. Word spread, and by 2001 Rob took a leap of faith, leaving the Greenwich studio behind to open pointblank’s first official school in Shoreditch.
Built by Musicians, For Musicians
Early on, Rob brought in his childhood friend Jules Brookes, a fellow musician, to help as student interest grew. At the time, Jules was touring with Raw Stylus, a band signed to Geffen and best known for their No. 1 Billboard Dance hit ‘Believe In Me’. The two friends had bonded over bands as kids and even made music together before their careers diverged. Reunited in the Greenwich studio, they quickly rediscovered how well their strengths fit together: Jules bringing the creative vision, and Rob with his focus and leadership.
“Underpinning these roles… is two old mates that have figured out how to run a music school. We’re a pair of musicians, really,” Rob once said.
That ethos of friendship and musician-to-musician mentorship became the backbone of pointblank. Every lecturer is an active industry professional – DJs, producers, engineers, songwriters- so students learn directly from people immersed in the craft. And it’s not just the teaching staff; many of our team are deeply involved in the industry too. This close-knit, artist-first culture has always made pointblank feel less like an institution and more like a creative family.
Growing a Global Music Family
What began as a niche training session in a single studio evolved organically into a full-fledged curriculum. By the late ’90s, pointblank’s classes were accredited and rapidly growing with the latest gear and software. New programs were launched in radio broadcasting, singing, sound engineering, music business and more; always staying at the cutting edge of what the industry demanded. By the 2010s, our reach went international: we launched our Online School to teach students worldwide, expanded to Los Angeles, Ibiza, and beyond.
“It started out as commercial recording studio, but has ended up as one of the world’s leading music-production educators.” – MusicTech, 2016
Through all this growth, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to empowering the next generation of music creatives. We’ve taught thousands of aspiring students around the world and helped power their music careers, supporting everyone from complete beginners to emerging artists. Many have gone on to make their mark in the industry. We’re proud to have helped shape DJs and artists, including Patrick Topping, Nicole Moudaber, Aluna Francis, and countless others. We’ve also collaborated with true legends, from hosting masterclasses with Richie Hawtin and Mark Ronson to seeing alumni such as Goldie and Leona Lewis reach superstar status. Moments like these, big and small, remind us why pointblank exists: to share a love of music and help talent flourish.
Innovation with Soul
pointblank has always been about staying ahead of the curve in music technology while keeping the soul of music front and centre. From the clunky hardware days of the ’90s to today’s world-leading facilities, we’ve continued to push what modern music education can be. With a bold vision for the future of music production, we also secured £1.7 million in capital funding from the OfS to help fuel that ambition.
After more than three decades, pointblank is still ‘living the dream’, just as Rob was back in the ’80s when he first picked up a bass guitar. We’re immensely grateful to every student, lecturer, and collaborator who’s been part of the story so far. Here’s to the next 30 years of making music, breaking boundaries, and celebrating the creativity that brings us all together.
