Text: Stuart Anderson

Do you have a love of music that you would like to build a business around? RockMasters is a new launch franchise opportunity seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to replicate its exciting business in the experience economy by developing 'rock schools' around the country.

In 2006 guitar sales topped £100 million, and a recent survey suggested that one in four people in the UK are able to play a musical instrument. "Currently it is estimated that there are between 300,000 and 400,000 people either playing or learning to play the guitar in the UK, indicating that the revival in live pop and rock music is getting stronger and stronger," says RockMasters founder Mike Hurst. "This has created colossal potential to expand into an exciting and rapidly growing market."

Mike is a musician and record producer, who has been a member of The Springfields, played with Jimmy Page, and produced 52 hit singles and 25 platinum albums with artists including Cat Stevens, Marc Bolan, The Four Tops and Shakin' Stevens. He originally launched RockMasters in 2005 to provide schools in rock music for both children and adults, typically at summer camps and corporate weekends. With the assistance of Franchise Development Services Consultant Paul Hague, RockMasters has developed a working franchise package by recruiting key management personnel with franchise experience and by making use of a substantial injection of capital.

"There are two main strands to the RockMasters experience," reveals Director Mark Mayo. "The first is in organising music tuition courses for school children and university students, which typically involve residential summer camps and school holiday sessions, or non-residential weekend workshops. The second is in providing luxury weekend breaks for adults, which in many cases include the parents of children who are already enjoying RockMasters!

"RockMasters provides each franchisee with a complete business operating model, all the required equipment and a recognised name as 'master musician'. So our courses offer an opportunity for children and adults to learn and play with respected musicians and teachers from the rock world. The UK's unique rock heritage creates a clear market opportunity and strengthens the RockMasters' brand offering. RockMasters' first franchisee is set to launch in early March in the Kent/Sussex area!"
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