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Home > PRS Foundation congratulate Mercury Prize 2021 winner Arlo Parks and all the nominees who have had their careers supported by PRS Foundation initiatives

PRS Foundation congratulate Mercury Prize 2021 winner Arlo Parks and all the nominees who have had their careers supported by PRS Foundation initiatives

 

  • Arlo Parks received support through PRS Foundation & BBC Music Introducing showcase partnership
  • 8 out of 12 Mercury Prize 2021 nominees have had their careers supported by PRS Foundation

 

We’re delighted to congratulate Arlo Parks on winning this year’s Mercury Music Prize, as well as the 7 other artists nominated for the award that have received support from PRS Foundation to develop their careers in the UK and overseas.

Arlo Parks had received support through PRS Foundation’s partnership with BBC Music Introducing to showcase export ready UK talent overseas.  The support enabled a digital British Music Embassy performance to happen for export showcasing when the pandemic caused SXSW and many showcase festivals to cancel and pivot to online events.

 

Joe Frankland, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation said,

Huge congratulations from the entire PRS Foundation team to Arlo Parks on last night’s well deserved Mercury Prize win. We’re delighted that our timely support has played a part in Arlo’s journey and career trajectory. Arlo was set to play SXSW 2020 with support from PRS Foundation and our partnership with BBC Music Introducing and quickly had to adapt, playing the BME Sessions online.

 

“We’re delighted that in 3 out of 4 years, a PRS Foundation supported artist has won the Mercury Prize, following 2019 and 2018 supported winners Dave and Wolf Alice respectively. Arlo has delivered an amazing album and her manager, team and everyone at Transgressive deserve lots of recognition for their roles too. Congratulations also to the 7 other fantastic, supported music creators, for being nominated this year.”

 

The Mercury Prize 2021 artists that received PRS Foundation support are:

  • Arlo Parks (nominated for “Collapsed in Sunbeams”): BBC Music Introducing x PRS Foundation showcase for SXSW 2020 w/ BME Sessions
  • Black Country New Road (nominated for “For the First Time”): PPL Momentum Music Fund 2019 (for debut album recording and UK touring), BBC Music Introducing x PRS Foundation showcase for ESNS 2020, and International Showcase Fund for SXSW 2020
  • Floating Points (nominated for “Promises”): PPL Momentum Music Fund 2013 (for composition and recording)
  • Ghetts (nominated for “Conflict of Interest”): International Showcase Fund for Midem 2015
  • Hannah Peel (nominated for “Fir Wave”): PPL Momentum Music Fund 2013 (for recording, release and promo of an EP and her sophomore album), New Music Biennial 2017 (‘Journey To Cassiopeia’ commissioned by Tubular Brass)
  • Laura Mvula (nominated for “Pink Noise”): Women Make Music 2011 (Black Voices commissioned Mvula to write a Jazz Suite which was then toured around the UK and Europe)
  • Nubya Garcia (nominated for “SOURCE”): Steve Reid Innovation Award, 2017, BBC Music Introducing x PRS Foundation showcase for New York Winter Jazzfest 2018, PPL Momentum Music Fund 2018 (to write, record and later release her debut album), and International Showcase Fund for SXSW 2018
  • Wolf Alice (nominated for “Blue Weekend”): International Showcase Fund for SXSW 2014

 

Investment in exceptional talent at crucial stages has a huge impact on creative and career development. PRS Foundation pays testament to the hard work and expertise of our external advisors and a number of partners including PRS for Music, PPL, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, DIT, British Underground, Spotify and the sector coming together to support talent at this unprecedented time.