Point Blank is a music and creative media training school founded in London in 1994 by musician and producer Robert Cowan. It offers a variety of courses in electronic music production and sound engineering, DJing, singing and songwriting, radio broadcasting and music business. In addition to its HQ premises in Hoxton, North London, Point Blank has facilities in Los Angeles, China, Ibiza, Mumbai and online.
History
Point Blank started as a recording studio in Greenwich, London in 1994. Founder and CEO Rob Cowan had previously been a bass player in Sony-signed band Honeychile and worked as a studio engineer for Matrix studios, working with artists such as D:Ream and Blur. Originally set up as a recording studio, Point Blank quickly evolved into a school after clients expressed an interest in learning about how the gear worked themselves. The school eventually relocated to its current location in Hoxton, London where it offers courses on singing, songwriting, radio broadcasting, music business and live sound. 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. 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.' It was reinstated in the same year after a re-inspection. In 2015, Point Blank opened a school in Silverlake, Los Angeles. Housed in the historic Mack Sennett Studios, Point Blank's L.A. school provides students with music production and DJ courses, including Music Composition, Complete DJ and Audio Mastering Courses. Point Blank extended their London campus by opening a second studio complex in 2016. 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. In 2017, Point Blank 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. In September of the same year, Point Blank announced the launch of a two-week DJ/Entrepreneur course in Mumbai, in collaboration with The True School of Music. In July 2019, Point Blank 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.