PRS Foundation announces the PPL Momentum Accelerator – a partnership with Music:Leeds’ Launchpad to offer support to talented artists in Yorkshire
- PPL Momentum Accelerator grants of £5,000 available to four artists in Yorkshire each for support and development
- Two full PPL Momentum Music Fund grants of up to £15,000 also available
- PPL Momentum Accelerator deadline: 7th August 2020
- PPL Momentum Music Fund deadline: 24th August 2020
- Webinar to take place on 28th July to inform and offer advice on applying for the opportunities
PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, announces a new partnership with Music:Leeds’ “Launchpad” scheme supported by Arts Council England. The partnership – called PPL Momentum Accelerator – will bring targeted PPL Momentum Music Fund support to talented artists and industry professionals based in Yorkshire.
Together with Launchpad, PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Accelerator will offer support of up to £5,000 to four artists and will ringfence at least two full PPL Momentum Music Fund grants of up to £15,000 to artists based in Yorkshire.
Additionally 10 industry professionals will receive support to develop their skills and careers through Launchpad with support from Arts Council England.
Launchpad offers opportunities and support for emerging artists, musicians, producers, bands, composers and industry professionals in the Yorkshire region. The PPL Momentum Accelerator funding will provide crucial support for exciting artists with a growing fanbase, currently working to establish a music industry team, while the full PPL Momentum Music support is for those artists with a team already in place and at a tipping point, ready to take the next step in their careers.
Artists can find out more information and apply for either PPL Momentum Accelerator or PPL Momentum Music support via PRS Foundation’s website here.
- Applications for PPL Momentum Accelerator will be accepted until the deadline of 7th August at 6pm.
- Applications for PPL Momentum Music Fund must be submitted before the deadline of 24th August at 6pm.
On 28th July, Launchpad will be hosting a live stream panel with PRS Foundation to talk through the support these funds can offer, featuring a range of artists who have previously been funded and received support through the schemes.
Find out more and apply for PPL Momentum Accelerator support
Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation said:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Music:Leeds and again with Arts Council of England to offer this targeted support through our PPL Momentum Music Fund to the talented music creators in Yorkshire. Having piloted the Accelerator model successfully in Liverpool last year, we’re excited to be building on the programme and our relationship with PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Partner organisations to continue to invest in talented music creators outside of London with varied and targeted support.”
Samuel (Whiskas) Nicholls, Founder & Director of Music:Leeds said,
“It’s amazing to be able to bring the support we have established through the Launchpad program to artists and emerging professionals throughout Yorkshire. Through our well established partnership with PRS Foundation, we are excited to bring the opportunity for artists in the region to apply for PPL Momentum Accelerator, filling an essential gap in the talent development pipeline for artists on the verge of breaking through to national profile, and continue to base themselves in the region.”
Sarah Mitchell, Director of Membership and Communications at PPL, said,
“We are excited to support the launch of the PPL Momentum Accelerator for Yorkshire. The region is home to some of the UK’s most well-known artists, and its towns and cities continue to produce great music. This accelerator will, in addition to the existing grants available through the PPL Momentum Fund, provide extra support to the creators of this music, helping them capitalise on their success and continue to develop their careers.”
Pete Massey, Director North, Arts Council England says:
‘It’s fantastic to see Music:Leeds reintroducing the Launchpad for artists based in Yorkshire. This programme, along with the Momentum Accelerator fund, will help to break down barriers for regional emerging musicians wishing to break into the industry, and help to develop their talent. These initiatives arrive at a challenging time for venues, producers, musicians and their livelihoods, so it’s especially great to see Music: Leeds and partners continuing to provide these opportunities for musicians and industry professionals.’
Managed by PRS Foundation, the PPL Momentum Music fund awards grants of £5,000-£15,000 using funds from PRS Foundation, PPL, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. Spotify, the official digital partner on the fund, contributes additional funding and a reward package containing exciting promotional opportunities and a close working relationship between Momentum artists and the Spotify team. Event partner Ben Sherman offers live opportunities, additional marketing, promotional and bespoke branding support.
This new partnership with Music:Leeds ensures that grant support will be offered to talented Yorkshire based artists. Launchpad and PRS Foundation’s targeted PPL Momentum Music funds for Yorkshire have been made possible thanks to support from Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Leeds 2023, arts@leeds, and PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Partner network. You can find out more about Launchpad here.
From April 2013-March 2020 (Years 1-7), Momentum supported 390 artists and invested over £3.74m into new music. Based on the 5 Years of Momentum Report (2013-18), this means Momentum has:
- Supported 225 albums
- Over 260 UK Tours and over 1,400 live dates
- 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.
Listen to the latest Momentum supported artists on the Spotify Momentum playlist here.
