Help Musicians and DJ Mag Partner to Accelerate Careers in Electronic Music

Help Musicians, the charity that's been supporting the UK's musicians for over 100 years, and DJ Mag, one of electronic music's best-loved brands, have partnered to drive forward the careers of 30 promising UK electronic musicians.

 

The research-backed Electronic Music Award in Association with DJ Mag will provide a cohort of electronic music creators with a 12-month career accelerator programme. Each awardee will receive up to £3,000 towards their music project and over the year-long programme will be supported to create new peer connections, gain valuable 1-2-1 business advice from industry experts and be given the opportunity to foster vital industry networks. Included in the support is an eight-session online course in music business skills tailored to electronic music; ultimately supporting creators to make long-lasting careers around their music.

 

Insight, including that from the recent Musicians' Census, highlighted increased barriers for musicians working in dance. Those barriers include inconsistent financial streams, being more vulnerable to debt, higher rates of low mental wellbeing, isolation and loneliness. Further research also found that electronic musicians find the music industry difficult to navigate with no clear path to success, meaning peer connection is vital to growth. Each element of the Electronic Award has been designed to support creators to navigate these challenges and help them to make viable long-term business decisions.

 

Driving equity across electronic music, the new Electronic Music Awards are for creators who have a track record of making income from their music but are unable to self-fund the opportunity to take the next step or expand their career. Help Musicians uses Inclusive Selection to make sure talent from across the UK, plus musicians of all genders, sexual orientations and musicians from the Global Majority are backed by the Award. Through the support, guidance and networks of DJ Mag and the research, insight and delivery of Help Musicians the Awards promise to add real value to the supported artists.

 

Assessing the application shortlist will be a panel of industry experts representing the breadth of the electronic music ecosystem, while further industry talent will support in-person throughout the programme. The Award is open to all music in an electronic genre, which could include house, techno, drum and bass, UK garage, bass, amapiano, trance, grime, drill and ambient, as well as new and emerging sub genres in dance and electronic music.

 

Laurie Oliva, Director of Services and Research, Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter said: "Throughout its history, Help Musicians has evolved to meet the needs of musicians; supporting them to overcome financial, career and wellbeing barriers that can prevent them from thriving. When the Musicians' Census highlighted the increased barriers musicians working in dance face, we were well-placed to react. We've been delivering funding support across genres for decades, but the addition of peer connection, tailored business skills courses and access to industry advice rises to the challenges musicians face in the current climate. Working with DJ Mag, a brand with such a rich history and deep and knowledge of electronic music, brings a whole new level of opportunity and value to the Electronic Music Award and we're excited to drive careers forward in a meaningful way together."

 

 

Applications open Tuesday May 28. Full details are available on the Help Musicians website here: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/develop-as-a-musician/help-musicians-electronic-award

 

Tweet