FAC & Amazon Music unveil the latest round of independent artists awarded Step Up funding

31 July 2025 - Press release

 

• Following a record number of applications, 4AM KRU, Arz, Balancing Act, BINA., Crae Wolf,edbl, Ellie Dixon, Jadu Heart, Mellina Tey and namesbliss receive career-boosting grants  

• The Step Up Fund was established in 2022 with the support of Amazon Music to help boost the creative development of talented independent artists

• Notably, over half of 2025’s awardees will use their Step Up grants to fully or partially underwrite the increasing costs of live touring - reiterating the wider need of targeted help for grassroots live music 

• Check out the Amazon Music Step Up 2025 Playlist here featuring all ten artists 

 

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Amazon Music are delighted to reveal the next ten awardees from this year’s Step Up Fund - with 4AM KRU, Arz, Balancing Act, BINA., Crae Wolf,edbl, Ellie Dixon, Jadu Heart, Mellina Tey and namesbliss all benefiting from grants of up to £8,000 to help take their music and creativity to the next level. 

In keeping with previous years, these hugely talented independent artists reflect the exciting diversity of UK music culture, representing genres from jungle, R&B, and indie rock to soul, grime, jazz and everywhere in between. 

**Please see extended bios below. You can check out all the awardees’ music here in an exclusive Amazon Music Step Up 2025 playlist.**

After demonstrating a solid business case for support, awardees are free to use their funding for any music-related activities that will benefit their career - including recording and mastering costs, video creation, PR and marketing campaigns, showcasing and live performance.

Notably, with over half of awardees using their funding to either fully or partially underwrite the costs of live shows, it reiterates the wider need of support for grassroots live touring - an area where the FAC remains at the forefront. 

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition 
“First and foremost, I'd like to say a sincere thank you to Amazon Music for their continued support of Step Up.  The UK team has shown real dedication to championing British talent and investing in the careers of emerging acts. With their ongoing commitment and passion, we are genuinely making a huge difference to a significant and growing number of artists - providing targeted finance that boosts their creative development. The FAC is incredibly proud that our partnership has enabled us to play a part in this.

“The standard of applications we have received remains incredibly high and continues to increase in volume year-on-year.  I would urge everyone in the industry, and every fan of music, to carve out some time and listen to the 2025 Step Up playlist. The calibre of artists in the UK is simply extraordinary. We have no deficit of music talent, but it is more vital than ever that we can nurture and recognise this artistry and sustain it with business models and an industry environment that are fit for purpose.”

 

Laura Lukanz, Head of Music UK, Australia & New Zealand, Amazon Music: 
“We’re delighted with the outstanding artists selected this year and are excited to support them as they take the next steps in their creative journey. With our help and the valuable support of the FAC, we aim to encourage them to realise their potential and achieve lasting success. We’re really looking forward to working with all the artists to nurture their talent, champion their music and support their continued growth.”

Ellie Dixon: 
“I’m so honoured to be chosen for the Step Up Fund this year - it’s helping me get out to Europe on tour to play my biggest shows yet!

“Touring is super expensive, especially playing internationally, so this is making sure I get to go out and see my fans, play all my new music, and bring my band with me. Big thank you to the FAC and Amazon Music!”

Mellina Tey: 
“The Step Up Fund is going to help me push boundaries, develop my debut mixtape and to stay independent. Most importantly, it’s proof that it’s possible, when the right people believe.” 

The Step Up Fund was established in 2022 in response to the accumulation of financial and structural challenges facing upcoming, independent artists.

These challenges remain a focal point for the FAC’s campaigning, as we advocate for artist-friendly reforms of music streaming, greater support for grassroots live music and international touring, and an end to onerous venue commissions on merchandise sales.   

With the generous backing of Amazon Music, we have been immensely proud to provide direct financial assistance to a growing number of artists, alongside a range of additional benefits including mentoring, a one-year PRO membership to the FAC, a one-year subscription to Amazon Music and content creation opportunities. 

Meet 2025’s Step Up Awardees:

4AM KRU 
Having developed a reputation for high-energy live sets that celebrate the sound and spirit of 1990s jungle, 4AM KRU have already torn through Glastonbury, Boomtown and Parklife as well as stages in Australia and New Zealand. Fiercely independent, they release via their own imprint, Embrace The Real Records.

Arz 
With a genre-blending sound that draws from grime, R&B, and classic UK rap, Arz marked an early career milestone by breaking into the UK Top 30 with his 2021 single Alone With You. Still fully independent, he has been recognised by key tastemakers including GRM Daily, received a nomination at the Rated Awards, and expanded his creative presence with a role in the film Gassed Up.

Balancing Act 
Formed during the pandemic, Balancing Act’s reputation has been forged by a series of high-energy sellout performances and a string of well-received singles. Featuring as the ‘Next Wave’ on Radio 1’s Future Artists as well as Dork Magazine’s Hype List, their debut album is due for release later this year. 

BINA. 
Blending indie and jazz influences with soul-tinged vocals and unapologetic Black-British flair, BINA. has amassed millions of streams for tracks like Dopamine and Tracy Beaker. Following appearances at Cross The Tracks, All Points East and Rock en Seine, this year she has performed at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, Recessland, and Little Simz’ Meltdown takeover. 

Crae Wolf 
Already a MOBO-certified artist, Crae Wolf describes her sonic universe of “Baddie Metal Core” and has performed at a succession of high profile events, including Glastonbury Festival, 2000 Trees and ComicCon London. Taking her 3-piece metal band to SXSW in 2024, she has also secured support from BBC Introducing and national radio play on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. 

edbl
As a producer, beat-maker and multi-instrumentalist, Ed Black is one of the UK’s most prolific collaborators, independently releasing tracks with over 100 artists. Collectively, these have amassed more than 130 million streams, garnering support from BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Jamz Supernova, BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley, Jazz FM, BBC 6 Music’s Don Letts, BBC Introducing, Reprezent, Wordplay and Notion. 

Ellie Dixon
A multi-disciplinary artist and producer creating witty, magnetic alt-pop, Ellie continues to push the envelope of what can be achieved in a bedroom studio. Attracting millions of online followers and streams, she has translated these successes to the live sphere, opening for artists including Pentatonix, Sam Ryder, UPSAHL, and Jack & Jack and performing at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Glastonbury, Latitude and Secret Garden Party. 

Jadu Heart 
Hailing from London and Huddersfield respectively, Diva-Sachy Jeffrey and Alex Headford are making serious waves with their experimental sound, moving between electronic shoegaze to psych-rock to grungey trip-hop. Self-releasing through their VLF Records imprint, they have accumulated more than 600 million streams while touring the US with Fontaines D.C. and headlining shows at the Outernet, Thekla and Band on the Wall. 

Mellina Tey 
A London-based R&B artist, producer, songwriter and vocalist, Mellina is on course to surpass 100m streams this year for standout tracks like Obsession, Wake Up In The Morning and 2am - an incredible achievement for a genuinely independent artist on a miniscule marketing budget. She is also successfully cultivating an online fanbase, connecting with fans through behind-the-scenes content and exclusive previews.

namesbliss 
Renowned for his lively anthems and mellow, thought-provoking cuts, namesbliss sits at the apex of Jazz Rap and Neo Grime - as epitomised by the viral hit Iniesta Flow. Co-signed by Complex UK, he has entered into brand partnerships with Red Bull GMT and Wingstop, releasing his debut album, Lively Experience, in 2024 alongside a string of sold-out UK shows and festival bookings at Boomtown, The Great Escape and Outlook Originals. 

With this year’s cohort, over 40 artists have now benefitted from Step Up funding, with the vast majority showing strong career progress, including Amie Blu, BEKA, Chalk, Cherise, Declan Welsh & The Decadent West, Elkka, Friedberg, Hana Lili, Jalen Ngonda, Joel Culpepper, LVRA, Olive Jones and VUKOVI. 

Thanks to Amazon Music’s generous support, hundreds of thousands of pounds has been distributed in this way. 

The fund is open to UK-based artists aged 18+ who have released at least three songs within the last year - with a minimum of 15k streams per song, or one song with 45k streams on a chart-eligible UK streaming service. Awardees must not have an ongoing agreement with a major or large independent record label.

 

Applications for Step Up were up 14% on last year, and the final 10 were determined by a  panel of independent industry professionals.