10 October 2016

Student Pulse app expands to offer world class music at student prices to

Birmingham students

Student Pulse, the mobile ticketing app and loyalty scheme for students first developed by

the London Symphony Orchestra with Kodime Ltd, has been launched in Birmingham by a

consortium of Birmingham music organisations. The app, previously only available to

London students, is designed to be the go-to place for discounted student tickets to classical

concerts in the city.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Ex

Cathedra and Performances Birmingham Ltd have worked together on Student Pulse

Birmingham, a joint initiative aimed at engaging Birmingham’s student community with the

world-class classical music performed in venues including Symphony Hall, Town Hall and

CBSO Centre.

Student Pulse was first launched in London in 2011 by the London Symphony Orchestra,

and now includes as its partners the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, BBC

Symphony, BBC Concert, Philharmonia, English Chamber and Royal Philharmonic

orchestras, Britten Sinfonia, Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Singers, St John’s Smith

Square, and the Southbank and Barbican centres. The Birmingham consortium worked with

the same agency, Kodime Ltd, to create a Birmingham version of the ticketing app. Student

Pulse London is in its fifth year and has over 8000 users, selling nearly 12,000 tickets each

academic year.

Abby Corfan, Director of Marketing & Digital at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

said “the Student Pulse London project has demonstrated that if organisations work together

it is possible to reach greater numbers of student audiences than could be achieved as

separate organisations. We’re excited to continue that model in Birmingham – and to help

students in the city find out about the fantastic classical music on offer here”.

Jo Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager – Digital Communications at the London Symphony

Orchestra added “Student Pulse has gone from strength to strength in London since

launching in 2011, so it is a great delight to see the scheme spreading its wings to

Birmingham. The city has such a wide range of classical music concerts on offer that it

makes sense for the orchestra, ensembles, choirs and venues to come together to present

their offer to Birmingham students in one place.”

Like the London version, the Student Pulse Birmingham mobile app is simple to use -

students can select and purchase discounted tickets in just a few clicks, for as little as £5.

There is also a loyalty points scheme within the app that means students accrue points for

every ticket they purchase. ‘Pulse’ points can be redeemed for rewards such as vouchers for

Pizza Express, Amazon and Spotify.

Birmingham is the UK’s second largest student city, with over 65,000 higher education

students across five universities. The app launched at Freshers’ fairs at the University of

Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Birmingham Conservatoire – signing up

hundreds of students in the first week.

Student Pulse Birmingham is funded by Arts Council England.

The development of Student Pulse London was initially supported by the Digital Research &

Development Fund for Arts and Culture, a partnership between the Arts Council England,

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and NESTA.

Download the apps from the App Store and Google Play or visit

www.studentpulsebirmingham.co.uk / www.studentpulselondon.co.uk

@pulsebrum/ @studentpulseLON

For further press information please contact: Rebecca Driver Media Relations Tel: 020 7247 1894 Email: nasarene@rdmr.co.uk | rebecca@rdmr.co.uk | ruth@rdmr.co.uk Web: www.rdmr.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Performances Birmingham Ltd runs two world-class music venues – 2,200-seat Symphony Hall and 1000-seat Town Hall – and promotes the Birmingham Classical

Series, which presents leading artists and orchestras in the city

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is one of the world’s leading orchestras. It performs symphonic concerts in Birmingham and across the world. The CBSO recently appointed Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla as its new Music Director, to international acclaim.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group has a reputation for exciting performances, innovative audience-building and learning initiatives, and a central commitment to composers and the presentation of new work

Ex Cathedra is a leading choir and early music ensemble, presenting a series of concerts in Birmingham, across the UK and internationally.

Kodime is a technology agency specialising in Digital Transformation & Automation. They help their clients to find, engage, convert and communicate with their audiences using digital. kodime.com / Twitter: @mobmarketing

Student Pulse was created in 2011 by the London Symphony Orchestra and Kodime Ltd. In 2012 the London Orchestras Consortium collaborated in creating Student Pulse London, which has grown in subscribers and ticket sales exponentially each season.