{{Short description|UK academic institution}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use British English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox university | name = pointblank Music School | image = Point Blank Music School 2.jpg | logo = Pointblank music school.svg | established = 1994 | type = Private | head_label = CEO | head = Rob Cowan | city = London, Los Angeles, Ibiza, Mumbai | website = {{URL|pointblankmusicschool.com}} }}
'''pointblank''' is a global network of music production schools<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukmusic.org/map-institutions/point-blank/|title=UK Music MAP Institutions: Point Blank|website=UK Music|accessdate=28 Mar 2022}}</ref> founded in London in 1994 by musician and producer Robert Cowan, offering a variety of courses in electronic music production, sound engineering, DJing, singing, songwriting, radio broadcasting, and music business. In addition to its original school in Hoxton, North London, pointblank now has schools in Los Angeles, Ibiza, Mumbai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and online.<ref>{{cite web|title=Point Blank Launches School in Mumbai|url=https://highonscore.com/point-blank-music-school-now-india/|website=highonscore|publisher=olivertylee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://djmag.com/tech/point-blank-music-school-ibiza|title=Point Blank Music School launches Ibiza college|date=1 April 2017|work=DJMag.com|accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref>
== History == pointblank started as a recording studio in Greenwich, London in 1994.<ref name=":0" /> Founder and CEO Rob Cowan had previously been a bass player in Sony-signed band Honeychile<ref name=":0" /> and worked as a studio engineer for Matrix studios,<ref name=":0" /> working with artists such as D:Ream and Blur.<ref name=":0" /> Originally set up as a recording studio, pointblank quickly evolved into a school after clients expressed an interest in learning about how the gear worked themselves.<ref name=":0" /> The school eventually relocated to its current buildings in Hoxton, London where it offers courses on music production, sound engineering, DJ performance, singing, songwriting, radio broadcasting, music business, and live sound.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.ministryofsound.com/posts/articles/2016/october/inside-point-blank/|title=Inside Point Blank: The DJ And Electronic Music School|website=Ministry of Sound|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref>
In 2013, the school was banned by the Border Agency from sponsoring non-EU nationals for offering too many places to students who failed to meet the rules.<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21885347 Leading music college loses border licence – BBC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It had previously had 'highly trusted' status for a decade, and the school's managing director blamed the issue on 'formalities and clerical errors on the side of the UKBA.'<ref name=autogenerated1 /> It was reinstated in the same year after a re-inspection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23449366|title=Goldie's former music college wins back border licence|last=Burns|first=Judith|date=25 July 2013|work=BBC News|accessdate=10 May 2017}}</ref>
In 2015, pointblank opened a school in Los Angeles, originally housed in the historic Mack Sennett Studios.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rothlein |first=Jordan |date=10 September 2014 |title=Point Blank opens LA branch |work=Resident Advisor |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=26350}}</ref> In 2022, pointblank L.A. moved its operations to a standalone campus facility on La Brea Avenue, one mile south of Hollywood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=dublab |url=https://www.dublab.com/events/108058/point-blank-l-a-new-campus-grand-opening |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=www.dublab.com}}</ref> pointblank's L.A. school provides students with postsecondary programs in music production, audio engineering, DJ performance, vocal & instrumental performance, and music industry studies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education - BPPE |url=https://search-bppe.dca.ca.gov/institutionDetail?schoolCode=15595075 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=search-bppe.dca.ca.gov}}</ref>
In 2016, pointblank extended their facilities in London by opening a second studio complex.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.parkeray.co.uk/project-gallery/higher-education/point-blank-music-school|title=Point Blank Music School|work=Parkeray|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074921/http://www.parkeray.co.uk/project-gallery/higher-education/point-blank-music-school/|archive-date=25 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The second premises, also located in Hoxton, features 7 purpose-built teaching studios, including DJ and music production equipment such as a SSL Duality Delta mixing desk.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/news/point-blank-unveils-new-studio-complex-london|title=Point Blank unveils new studio complex in London|date=2 October 2016|work=Sound on Sound}}</ref>
In 2017, pointblank opened an additional school in San Jose, Ibiza. The school, which is found in Ibiza's Can Blau facility, offers students a DJing and Music Producing hybrid course.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://djmag.com/tech/point-blank-music-school-ibiza|title=Point Blank Music School Launches College in Ibiza|last=Wilson|first=Mick|date=1 April 2017|work=DJ Mag}}</ref> In September of the same year, pointblank announced the launch of a two-week DJ/Entrepreneur course in Mumbai, in collaboration with The True School of Music.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://highonscore.com/point-blank-music-school-now-india/|title=Point Blank Music School is Now in India|last=Ramesh|first=Sneha|date=2 September 2017|work=High on Score}}</ref>
In 2019, pointblank opened a school in Hangzhou, China. The school, in partnership with NetEase FEVER, offers courses including music production, DJing, singing & songwriting, music industry, and weekend courses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://djmag.com/pointblank/point-blank-china-accelerate-electronic-music-education-far-east|title=Point Blank China to Accelerate Electronic Music Education in the Far East|date=6 June 2019|work=DJ Mag}}</ref>
== Notable alumni == {{alumni|date=May 2023}} * Goldie - musician / DJ * Felix Jaehn - record producer / DJ * Nicole Moudaber - record producer / DJ * Claude VonStroke - musician / DJ * Leona Lewis - singer / songwriter * Mishlawi - hip-hop artist * Luke Black - singer / songwriter * Patrick Topping - DJ, producer * Monki - DJ
== Partnerships == pointblank is partnered with Middlesex University and offers a BA (Hons) Music Production and Sound Engineering degree with the University.<ref>[http://www.musictech.net/2017/03/point-blank-middlesex/ Point Blank launches Online BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree | Point Blank]</ref> pointblank is an Ableton Education Partner,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ableton.com/en/certified-training/point-blank/|title=Ableton Education Partners|accessdate=7 April 2016}}</ref> an Apple Inc. Training Centre,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/uk/education/profiles/pointblank/|title=Apple Profiles in Success: Point Blank|accessdate=12 December 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905110422/http://www.apple.com/uk/education/profiles/pointblank/|archivedate=5 September 2008}}</ref> Steinberg Training Centre and Native Instruments Training Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.native-instruments.com/en/company/education-program/education-partners/|title=OFFICIAL NI EDUCATION PARTNERS|accessdate=26 April 2016}}</ref> It has also partnered with Solid State Logic (SSL) since 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.solidstatelogic.com/news/point-blank-music-school-becomes-ssl-partner?sector=Studio|title=Point Blank Music School Becomes SSL Partner {{!}} Solid State Logic|website=www2.solidstatelogic.com|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref>
== Record Label == pointblank runs its own in-house record label, ''pointblank Recordings'', founded to help establish talented students in the music industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/record-label.aspx?id=6533|title=RA: Point Blank – Record Label|website=Resident Advisor|accessdate=10 May 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.pointblankmusicschool.com International Site]
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Category:Educational institutions established in 1994 Category:Audio engineering schools Category:Music schools in London Category:1994 establishments in England Category:Hoxton