Latest PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator grantees announced

01 May 2025 - Press release

• Latest round features multi-award winning and critically acclaimed artists
• 9 exciting Wales-based artists and 3 industry professionals selected for the latest PPL Momentum Sbardun support

 

PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, reveal the latest artists that will receive support from the pioneering PPL Momentum Music Fund.

 

The artists who have been selected by a network of industry experts, are:

Elkka - The development and promotion of new music independently, and alongside carefully selected independent and community-led labels

Eva Lazarus - To support the production, marketing, and touring of a 12-track album that explores the evolution of sound system music

Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Recording of their debut album

Michael Aldag - To finish an album, create marketing assets and produce a live show ready to tour

TIBASKO - Preparing a 2025 EP, followed by their debut UK tour

Tsatsamis - Marketing for 8 track EP project

Ugly - Recording of debut album

 

This latest round from the February 2025 deadline features an array of industry recognised and celebrated talent from the multi-award winning Elkka who last year picked up an 8/10 review in Clash Magazine, to Pete Tong’s Future Stars, Tibasko and Man/Woman/Chainsaw tipped by The Guardian as Ones To Watch.

PPL Momentum Music supported Michael Aldag said, “The PPL Momentum Music Fund will be pivotal to my career development. As an independent artist with an already-devoted fanbase, the funding will allow me step up to the next level.”

PPL Momentum Music Fund is the ground-breaking support for artists who have reached a crucial tipping point, have a team already in place and ready to take the next step in their careers. Managed by PRS Foundation, the PPL Momentum Music Fund awards grants of £5,000-£15,000 using funds from PRS Foundation, PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, offers grants of up to £5,000 to talented Wales-based artists with a growing fanbase, currently working to establish a music industry team.  The latest artists selected to receive PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator support are:

Alimish - Live Performance/Touring

Ani Glass - Marketing

Billy Sharp – Recording

Casi - Recording, Live Performance/Touring

C E L A V I - Recording

Lily Beau - Recording

Malan - Live Performance/Touring

Taff Rapids - Recording

WRKHOUSE – Recording

 

Additionally, PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator support of up to £2,000, which might include micro-grants, mentoring or other holistic support, is offered for Wales-based future music industry professionals to develop their skills and careers. The three Wales-based industry professionals receiving support are:

Dylan Jenkins - Mentoring, Mini-Grants for Projects, Training / Coaching & Meeting / Conference attendance

Martha Owen - Mentoring, Mini-Grants for Projects & Meeting / Conference attendance
Osamagbe Izevbigie - Mentoring, Mini-Grants for Projects, Training / Coaching & Meeting / Conference attendance

 

John Hendrickse, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said: "Huge congratulations to the latest round of PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator grantees receiving this vital and targeted support, in partnership with PRS Foundation, PPL, Creative Wales, Arts Council Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Wales.

We’re delighted that the 7 incredibly talented artists receiving PPL Momentum Music Fund will be able to bring their exciting projects to life, continue making waves and help move their careers to the next level and the 9 artists selected for PPL Momentum Sbardun support will be able to continue building on their talent and developing their careers towards that tipping point – as previous grantees, LEMFRECK and Luke RV have done. In addition to the direct grants to music creators, the 3 Wales-based future industry professionals receiving support to develop skills, practice and experience, will bring opportunities to the Wales music scene, developing the ecosystem for even more music creators in the country. Congratulations again to all being supported.

Sarah Wall, Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, PPL said: "Congratulations to all recipients of the PPL Momentum Music Fund and the PPL Sbardun | Accelerator in Wales.  It's been five years since PPL became the headline partner for the Momentum Music Fund and in that time, we have supported 227 artists and the Accelerator has expanded from Liverpool City Region into Wales, Yorkshire and most recently Tees Valley. We look forward to seeing all recipients build the next stage of their growing music careers."

PPL Momentum Music Fund is crucial for both music creators’ careers and the wider industry as the 10 Years of Momentum Report (2013-23) found. To date, the fund has been transformational with over £5.2 million awarded to artists across the whole of the UK, resulting in:

• Helping to generate £22 million for the UK music industry
• Over 500 artists awarded PPL Momentum Music Fund support
• Creation of more than 275 albums (including Mercury Prize nominated albums and dozens of top twenty chart placements)
• Support for over 300 UK tours and over 1,600 live dates
• Over 7,300 applications received over 40 funding rounds with a 7% success rate of funds being granted

 

Following the report’s release in 2023, recent PPL Momentum Music artists continue to make waves and progress their careers. Ezra Collective were awarded the 2023 Mercury Prize (the second PPL Momentum Music fund grantee in a row to do so following Little Simz) Jordan Adetunji released one of the most viral tracks of the last 12-months ‘Kehlani’, and Dry Cleaning picked up a 2024 Grammy Award.

An evaluation of the PPL Momentum Music Fund and evidence from thousands of applications PRS Foundation receives each year identified talent pipeline gaps across the UK. Many music creators show strong musical potential but are unable to capitalise upon this due to financial barriers, gaps in regional infrastructure, knowledge, advice, and access to industry platforms.

PPL Momentum Accelerator was subsequently launched as a targeted scheme to support the development of outstanding artists and bands who are writing their own music, and early career Industry Professionals, outside London and who face additional barriers in reaching a crucial career tipping point based on their location.

L E M F R E C K is the fourth artist to have progressed their career to a tipping point and be eligible to apply for and receive the PPL Momentum Music Fund after initially receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator support.  Fellow Wales-based Luke RV and two Yorkshire-based Downtown Kayoto and Chiedu Oraka also first picked up PPL Momentum Accelerator support early in their careers before successfully receiving PPL Momentum Music Fund support. Further recent Accelerator successes include English Teacher winning last year’s Mercury Prize and being shortlisted in this year’s BBC Sound Of 2025.

PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, 227 talented music creators at tipping points in their careers have received this vital support to break through to the next level.

PRS Foundation and Arts Council England initiated The Momentum Music Fund in 2013. Arts Council England originally established the need for this specific fund and supported the programme from 2013-18.

 

Next deadline to submit an application for PPL Momentum Music Fund support is 12^th May 2025 at 6:00pm. Find out more and apply via prsfoundation.com.