Help Musicians and DJ Mag Announce Recipients of Electronic Music Award

23 January 2026 - Press release

Help Musicians, in partnership with DJ Mag, today announces the recipients of their Electronic Music Award - a career accelerator programme supporting emerging artists working across electronic music. 

This year’s recipients are: BITEZ, Ronnie Loko, James Adrian Brown, DAVENPORT, Astrid Diaz Rivas, Evan Gildersleeve, Mount Palomar, optmst, Sophie Joy, The Yard Woman, Yasmin Rai, SO SHA, dogheadsurigeri, and Toraigh. 

The 2026 cohort will receive financial support, mentoring, and business advice as part of the programme. Rather than focusing solely on outputs, the award centres on building the skills, confidence, and connections needed for artists to sustain and grow their careers. 

The programme includes:

• Up to £3,000 to support a music project or career development activity
• 1-to-1 business advice with industry experts
• Industry mentoring, tailored to each artist’s needs
• Online peer meetups and guest speaker sessions
• In-person networking opportunities, bringing artists together with industry professionals and fellow awardees

This integrated approach ensures artists are supported creatively, professionally, and strategically.

By combining funding with expert guidance and access to networks, the Electronic Music Award helps artists move from short-term opportunity to long-term career development. Recipients are supported to refine their artistic direction, strengthen their professional skills, and build meaningful industry relationships - all essential for navigating a fast-moving and competitive sector.

The programme also creates space for peer learning and community, helping artists feel less isolated and more empowered to take ownership of their careers.

Why electronic music?

Electronic music is one of the UK’s most innovative and influential genres, yet many artists face significant challenges in turning creative momentum into sustainable careers. Freelance working patterns, limited access to industry networks, financial precarity, and a lack of structured career support can make progression difficult, particularly for artists outside traditional industry pathways.

The Musicians’ Census, conducted by Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union, revealed that nearly three quarters (74%) of electronic musicians are self-employed, and 35% earn £7,000 or less from music, with the average income for electronic musicians being £18,000.

Help Musicians developed the Electronic Music Award in response to what musicians themselves have said they need: practical, long-term support that goes beyond one-off funding. The programme is designed to address the realities of working in electronic music, where artists often operate independently and across multiple roles, from producer and performer to self-manager and promoter.

Liam Hennessy, Head of Service Delivery at Help Musicians, said: “Electronic musicians often juggle portfolio careers, balancing creative work with multiple roles to sustain themselves, many doing so without access to the support and resources they need. The Electronic Music Award is designed to address this by combining financial support with tailored business advice, industry mentoring and meaningful networking connections, giving artists the skills, confidence and relationships they need to build sustainable careers. By investing in people as well as projects, we’re aiming to help musicians move beyond short-term opportunities and create long-term pathways and sustainable careers in electronic music.”

Iain McGoldrick, Head of Business Development at DJ Mag, said: "Going into our second year, we knew we were going to receive some incredibly impressive applications and we are thrilled to present such a talented cohort of awardees for 2026. As usual, we couldn’t have done it without the help of our industry professionals – NOORIYAH, Hiroki Beck (fabric), Gabriel Day (WHQ, Newcastle) and Jenny Wade (Rinse) – who alongside DJ Mag and Help Musicians took the time to assess each application. We’re already seeing amazing results from last year's campaign and we can’t wait to continue that work into 2026 with this new group of awardees. As well as vital funding, the award aims to equip artists with the essential tools they require to navigate the music industry and take the next steps in their career as electronic artists. DJ Mag is really proud to be a part of that journey."