Low Hummer, Panic Shack and Sinead O'Brien among the latest artists to receive PPL Momentum Music Fund support

18 August 2022 - Press release

 

• Nine talented artists to receive the ground-breaking PPL Momentum Music fund in latest round
• PPL Momentum Accelerator support recently launched for Wales-based artists and future industry professionals
• Next deadline to apply for PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Accelerator Wales support: 22^nd August 2022 at 6pm

 

PRS Foundation, the UK's leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with PPL, Creative Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Spotify 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:

 

Bears In Trees – EP release and touring

Finn Foxell - Touring

Just Banco – Recording and marketing

Kelli-Leigh – Writing, recording and marketing

Low Hummer - Recording

Panic Shack - Recording

Porij – Touring, recording and marketing

Sinead O'Brien - Touring

SIPHO. - Touring

 

PPL Momentum Music supported Porij said, "The PPL Momentum Fund has come at a vital point in our trajectory, allowing us to self-fund our touring in 2022 and additionally help market our planned music releases."

Kwame Safo, Grants & Programmes Manager (Industry Funds) at PRS Foundation said: "Congratulations to the talented artists selected for this latest round of our PPL Momentum Music Fund. This ground-breaking funding for those established artists at a tipping point in their career is so crucial, particularly with the numerous financial challenges currently facing UK-based artists. The PPL Momentum Music fund, and the PPL Momentum Accelerator opportunities (most recently in Wales), are playing a pivotal role in ensuring talented music creators can create sustainable careers and reach their potential - such as the four Mercury Prize nominees this year (Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Little Simz and Yard Act) that have received PPL Momentum Music support at different points in their careers." 

Kate Reilly, Chief Membership & People Officer at PPL, said: "The PPL Momentum Music Fund is a vital source of funding for artists across the UK who are at a tipping point in their career. Its support will help these nine artists, who are critically acclaimed and growing in popularity, realise their potential and continue to establish sustainable careers in music. The Fund also does great work in supporting artists from a variety of regions. This round sees artists from Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull and Manchester receive funding."  

Managed by PRS Foundation, the PPL Momentum Music Fund awards grants of £5,000-£15,000 using funds from PRS Foundation, PPL, Creative Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. Spotify, the official digital partner of the fund, contributes additional funding and a reward package containing exciting promotional opportunities and a close working relationship between PPL Momentum Music Fund artists and the Spotify team.

While the PPL Momentum Music Fund is for artists with a team already in place and at a tipping point ready to take the next step in their careers, PPL Momentum Accelerator funding supports artists with a growing fanbase who are working to establish a music industry team.

In July 2022, PRS Foundation announced a new partnership with Arts Council of Wales to bring the targeted PPL Momentum Accelerator support to talented artists and music industry professionals based in Wales. 

PRS Foundation's PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator offers grants of up to £5,000 to support the careers of seven talented Wales-based artists with expanding fanbases and ready to build their industry teams.

Additionally, support of up to £2,000, which might include micro-grants, mentoring or other holistic support, is available to Wales-based future music industry professionals to develop their skills and careers.

PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator follows the recent success of PPL Momentum Accelerator initiatives in the Liverpool City Region since 2019 and Yorkshire since 2020 including English Teacher signing with Island Records, Simeon Walker's releases being regularly playlisted on Spotify's New Classical releases and broadcasted on BBC Radio 3, NuTribe performing at Great Escape and Harkin's album "Honeymoon Suite" receiving critical acclaim in the music press such as Loud & Quiet and DIY.

The next deadline to apply for PPL Momentum Music and PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator support is 22nd August 2022 at 6pm. Applicants can find out more and apply on PRS Foundation's website.

 

PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, more than 55 talented music creators at tipping points in their careers have received this vital support to break through to the next level. This type of support is crucial for both music creators' careers and the wider industry as the 5 Years of Momentum Report (2013-18) found the fund had generated over £18m for the UK music industry and UK economy.

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.

For a full rundown of all the artists supported so far see: https://prsfoundation.com/funding-support/funding-music-creators/next-steps/ppl-momentum-music-fund/momentum-artists/

 

Listen to the latest PPL Momentum Music Fund supported artists on the Spotify Momentum playlist.