POWER UP Year 5 Participants announced

25 July 2025 - Press release

 

• 41 Black music creators and industry professionals to receive career-changing support in POWER UP’s fifth year 
  
  
• POWER UP Participant network now features more than 200 music creators and industry professionals, bringing a huge arrange of experiences and considerable expertise together – winning awards and breaking through glass ceilings
  
  
• Almost 1,700 applications received since launching in 2021
• POWER UP broadens partnerships, with recent support from  Amazon Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group

 

POWER UP today announces the music creators, industry professionals and executives who will make up Year 5 of the multi-award winning initiative. 

Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter, POWER UP’s Participant Programme elevates pioneering Black talent and is a key feature of the long-term initiative launched to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

The programme - specifically designed to fit the needs of each annual cohort of participants - assists in the development of their careers and practice, to empower creators and professionals to break through glass ceilings and accelerate change across the industry. This includes grant support of up to £10,000 alongside capacity building masterclasses, mentoring, coaching, mental health and wellbeing support, and access to added value support from POWER UP Partners and the peer network which is integral to breaking down barriers.

Since POWER UP was launched in early 2021, the demand for a fairer and equitable music industry cannot be disputed. Over 1,697 Black music creators and industry professionals have applied for a place on the programme which is undoubtedly helping participants to break through glass ceiling barriers. 

Our wider POWER UP Movement is harnessing the experiences of participants and Executive Steering Committee members to inform powerful, meaningful and wide-reaching action. During the fifth programme year, POWER UP will be publishing a ‘5 Years of POWER UP’ report - highlighting the impacts of the programme while sharing learnings in order to inspire active approaches to tackling anti-Black racism and further actions to improve the experiences of Black creatives in music.

 

Year 5 POWER UP Participants

The 41 talented music creators and industry professionals joining the POWER UP Participant network, selected by a panel of experts, are:

Music Creators

AKS BLACK JOSH Blue Lab Beats ButhoTheWarrior Charisse C Chiedu Oraka DJ Q Eerf Evil Eva Lazarus Eyve

Jay Weathers JNR WILLIAMS Kenzie TTH Leo Miyagee Lily Beau Not3s PETER XAN Roxanne Tataei Sans Soucis Sheila Maurice-Grey TEE

Music Industry Professionals

Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapham Alicia Esambe Anu Omideyi Charlotte-Anne Myler Danny West Deborah Yewande Bankole Jeremiah Gogo Jurango Kay George Kinaya Said Ibrahim

Lunick Bourgess Makeda Krish Miss C Brown Mr Darcy Natasha Hendry NGAIO / Booty Bass Osama Izevbigie SILVASTONE SIOBHAN BROWN TK

Find out more about each of the Year 5 Participants here.

This latest cohort came together for the first time at London’s Roundhouse on Friday 18^th July (see photo in media images) to network and hear more about each other’s projects, and from Years 1-4 participants.

A snapshot of Years 1 – 4 Participant successes so far include:

• L E M F R E C K was awarded 2024’s Welsh Music Prize and Becky Sikasa won BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2025 (following fellow participant Bemz) winning the same award in 2023
• Two-piece band Nova Twins won a Heavy Music Award, toured the US and Europe, signed to Marshall Records and have secured BBC Radio 1, NME and Spotify Equal support globally. Their POWER UP supported second album Supernova was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, they won a 2022 AIM Award and received 2 x BRITS 2023 nominations and they recently supported Foo Fighters in the US. 
• Keturah Cummings was nominated at the AIM Awards 2024 for Music Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2025 picked up Entrepreneur of the Year at the Young Music Boss Awards.
• Leading non-profit organisation, The Music Works promoted Malaki Patterson to the position of CEO in 2025
• ALT BLK ERA and JULS won Best Alternative Music Act and Best Producer awards respectively, at the most recent MOBO Awards. Additionally, ALT BLK ERA performed live on the iconic,Later…with Jools Holland show.
• Adem Holness was appointed as Head of Music at SXSW London following a successful stint as Head of Contemporary Music at the Southbank Centre. Adem was recently announced as an inaugural member of the LIVE Trust Board.
• Nick Eziefula was included in Billboard’s annual list of “Top Music Lawyers” list.
• Abel Selaocoe signed to Warner Classics, took part in the Proms in 2021 and 2022, his debut album hit No. 4 in the Classical Album Chart, and he was on Later with Jools…and as part of the BBC’s Glastonbury 2025 coverage.
• Amahla, ALT BLK ERA and Ashaine White were all spotlighted in the 25 “Ones to Watch” list in The Voice newspaper.
• Josh Daniel was appointed label manager for Interval Records which was formed in partnership with PRS Foundation Talent Development Network member Generator and EMI North.
• Eunice Obianagha was appointed as Head of Diversity at UK Music
• Other artist and music creator Award winners since POWER UP was launched include Ego Ella May (Jazz FM Awards), TAALIAH (AIM Award), Bemz (DJ Mag Award) and DoomCannon (MOBO Award). Fellows nominated for various awards include Dot Inc (Production Music Awards), Arowah (Jazz FM Collaboration Award for Queer Jazz), and NamesBLISS (DJ Mag Awards).
• Not to be outdone, Industry Professionals winning awards include Jennifer John (AIM Award), Eunice Obianagha (whose creative events work was nominated for a Music Week Award), andChristine Osazuwa, Esta Rae and Hannah Shogbola who joined the Music Week Women in Music Awards’ Roll of Honour. Christine has also become the Vice Chair for Keychange U.S.
• Despa Robinson was appointed to the AIM Board, and Daniel Kidane was elected to the Ivors Academy Senate.
• Guvna B (Year 2 artist managed by a Year 1 participant), who became the first rapper to top the UK Official Christian and Gospel Chart is now Co-Chair of Youth Music.
• Keecia Ellis, has received investment from Station 12 for her publishing company Rekodi Music.  
• Vanessa Maria, Jamz Supernova and Donae’O all joined the Artistic Board at Abram Wilson Foundation.
• Alexandra Carr led a strategic partnership between Southbank Centre and Montreux Jazz Festival.
• Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola’s client YolanDa Brown was appointed as Chair of the BPI; and YolanDa and Adetokunbo launched a campaign to open Soul Mama – a Black-owned music venue.

Senior POWER UP Manager, Yaw Owusu said, “It’s so rewarding to see so many exceptionally talented and dedicated individuals getting the support they deserve and joining our supportive and progressive network and programme. The journey that these Year 5 Participant programme cohort members will go on will surely enable them to feel fortified to break through their individual and collective barriers. We again rejoice at the breadth of excellence across the industry and the UK, and we must thank our partners for supporting year on year to enable us to do this vital work at the level necessary. As we are reflecting on the impact of the initiative so far, I’m looking forward to sharing learnings with the wider music sector during this programme year.”

Ben Wynter, Co-Founder of POWER UP said, "Congratulations to our new Year 5 POWER UP participants! This milestone marks five years of the programme and a vibrant network of 200 Black music creators and industry professionals whose impact is being felt across the UK and beyond. From award winning talent to senior execs shaping the future of the industry, POWER UP has become a launchpad for brilliance, innovation, and leadership.

But this year’s selection process also laid bare the fragility of progress. In a tightening financial climate, we’re seeing exceptional Black professionals particularly at senior levels being pushed out, while entry level hires are retained to tick diversity boxes.

I was genuinely struck by the calibre of applicant’s, people with proven impact now facing uncertainty. While not all could be selected, this year’s cohort is made up of some of the most dynamic, experienced, and visionary talent in the business. POWER UP continues to prove that when Black talent is given the opportunity, it doesn’t just thrive it leads.”

Paul Redding, CEO, Beggars Group said, “POWER UP continues to be a ground- breaking initiative as it enters its 5^th year. Beggars continue to support, and we look forward to engaging with the Year 5 participants.”

Sheryl Nwosu, Lawyer, and Chair of the Black Music Coalition said, "I know I’ve said it before, but it does bear saying again, that POWER UP is really doing the work it set out to do! And so, I am extremely pleased and excited that for the fifth year running we are able to announce that 41 talented Black creatives, executives and music industry professionals are about to take part in the programme, and almost certainly move upwards in their careers, supported by POWER UP.

The BMC remains a proud and vocal supporter as well as partner to the programme, and of all the past and present participants; 5 years in and we are not done yet. To that, I can't not let this moment pass without once again imploring the industry to recognise the work being done by the POWERUP programme, to get behind it, FUND IT!! get involved, and let’s continue breaking barriers in this industry and creating real equitable change.”

POWER UP recently welcomed new partnerships from Amazon Music, Warner Music UK and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Universal Music Group - bringing together key players to bolster and broaden the changemaking initiative. All three investments in POWER UP support and strengthen the programme through residentials and other activities benefitting the network of Participants.