MOMENTUM MUSIC FUND: PRS FOR MUSIC FOUNDATION UNVEILS THE FIRST TEN ARTISTS TO BENEFIT FROM GROUNDBREAKING FUNDING PROGRAMME

29 August 2013 - Press release

- HOTLY-TIPPED ARTISTS, SELECTED BY INDEPENDENT PANELS OF MUSIC
INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND TASTEMAKERS, GET FUNDING FROM MOMENTUM

- 1 IN 50 SUCCESS RATE DEMONSTRATES UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR
MOMENTUM SEED FUNDING

- DEEZER ANNOUNCED AS MOMENTUM’S EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL MUSIC
PARTNER

Today (August 30th) PRS for Music Foundation has announced the first ten
artists to be awarded grants from the £500k Momentum Music Fund, launched
with public funding from National Lottery through Arts Council England in May
of this year. These artists are:

Brolin, Dutch Uncles, Esco Williams, Floating Points, Hacktivist,
Hannah Peel, Kindness, Teleman, Thumpers, The Wytches

Listen to the playlist here - http://www.deezer.com/playlist/511378195

The awards of up to £15,000 will be used to fund a range of commercial music
activities - including recordings, physical and digital releases, marketing
campaigns, collaborations with leading producers and UK tours. The aim of the
fund is to support exceptional artists, to help them realise their potential and
contribute to the musical success story of this country.

The artists were chosen from around 500 submitted applications by a panel of
specialist music advisors, including representatives from record labels and
booking agencies, radio DJs and journalists. The experts making up these
panels will change for each of Momentum’s eight funding deadlines between
now and October 2014 to ensure fairness and transparency.

All applicants had to submit detailed proposals explaining how funding would
benefit their career development, along with measurable outcomes of what
they expect to achieve. Decisions were based on the quality of the artist’s
music and the strength of the business case presented.

in association with lso announced today is Deezer’s association with Momentum as its exclusive
digital music partner. As part of PRS for Music Foundation’s long-term aim to
increase the number of artists it can support through Momentum, Deezer will
contribute additional funds as well as offering valuable promotional
opportunities via a bespoke Momentum Deezer App, playlists, editorial features
and further artist opportunities to be revealed soon.

Momentum-funded artists will also be championed across BBC national and
digital radio stations by DJs such as Huw Stephens, Target, Jo Whiley and Tom
Robinson.

Vanessa Reed, Executive Director of PRS for Music Foundation, said:
“The overall quality of the Momentum applications to our first deadline has
reinforced my belief in the importance of this fund and the impact it’s going to
have on its first line-up of talented beneficiaries. Our message to those who
were not successful this time is not to give up. There are more funding
deadlines to come and we’re actively seeking additional sponsors to increase
the support we can offer. I’m delighted that Deezer has come on board as the
first of these new partners, offering important new opportunities to us and the
artists we work with.”

Momentum-funded band The Wytches said:
“We are really grateful to the Momentum Music Fund for supporting us. The
money awarded to us will play a big part in allowing us to create the debut
record we have imagined for so long, and will make sure we continue gaining
momentum as professional musicians at a time when surviving as a new band
can be incredibly difficult.”

Brolin, also funded in this first round, said:
“The Momentum Fund provides vital monetary assistance for new artists to
progress their career - without losing integrity. The fund supports innovation
and autonomy. It is a privilege to be one of the first artists to receive this
grant.”

Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:
“This is a brilliant milestone for Momentum and, after many months of hard
work behind the scenes both at the Arts Council and PRS for Music Foundation,
it’s marvelous to see artists starting to benefit from this fund.

“Momentum is all about helping real talent to find its place and I look forward
to seeing all ten artists – and those who follow them - grow and flourish with
its help.” ark Foster, Managing Director, Deezer UK & Ireland added:
“Deezer is delighted to be associated with this important new artist
development fund because we are all about enabling artists to engage with
new fans, and fans to discover new talent. What better way to contribute to
this process than by providing the means to help promising artists realise their
potential.”

Momentum is managed by PRS for Music Foundation, supported using public
funding from National Lottery through Arts Council England, and in association
with Deezer. It is dedicated to the development of talented artists and bands
who are based in England and at a tipping point in their career. For its initial
two years, the fund aims to offer grants to 50-75 acts across all contemporary
genres and sub-genres.

Further details and Momentum’s online application process can be found at
www.prsformusicfoundation.com.