GG and Savannah Jada among the latest songwriters and producers to receive Hitmaker fund support 

• This Hitmaker round was targeted for applications from talented women and gender minority behind the scenes songwriters and producers
• Next deadline for applications open to all will be in early 2022

PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with Spotify, announce today the latest producers and songwriters to receive support from the ground-breaking Hitmaker fund are:

• GG – Studio Hire
• Katie Sutherland – Writer camps, co-writes, collaboration
• Savannah Jada – Time to create, international activity and equipment
• LANTA – Writer camps, co-writes, collaboration
• Litening – Studio Hire
• Taneisha Jaxxon (aka Jaxxon) – International activity

Hitmaker supported producer and songwriter LANTA said

“I’m so grateful to receive support from the PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker Fund, it has come at such a crucial time for my career development and will have a huge impact on my progression as a songwriter and music producer. With the support of PRS Foundation, I will write and produce for more artist and synchronisation projects both in the UK and internationally. During my project I aim to secure a landmark career moment to help me reach the next level of my career. Having a fund that financially supports behind the scenes creators makes our industry more accessible to all and will only increase the quality and diversity of new music. I’m really proud to be a part of a fund that is helping songwriters at this important time!”

At a time when it is a challenge for up and coming behind the scenes creatives to earn sufficient funds to forge a sustainable career in the music business, PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker fund serves to address the need to support these creators who are the bedrock of the modern music industry.

In response to the low number of Hitmaker applications from women and gender minority behind the scenes songwriters and producers this round was a targeted round.

Kwame Safo, Grants & Programmes Manager (Industry Funds) at PRS Foundation said,

“We recognized in the previous round we weren’t receiving as many applications from the many talented and eligible women and gender minority songwriters and producers that we know are out there in the UK today. It’s been fantastic to see so many talented women and gender minority songwriters and producers come forward and apply and massive congratulations to everyone receiving Hitmaker support in this round. We encourage women and gender minorities to continue to apply to deadlines going forward alongside their fellow men contemporaries.”

Hitmaker support offers songwriters, producers and music creators working behind the scenes in popular music genres to further develop their careers and writing/production credits with grants of up to £10,000. Under the previous guise of the pilot Writer Producer Fund, Hitmaker has supported talent that has worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Paramore, Stormzy, Kylie and many more.

Spotify is the exclusive digital partner for Hitmaker.  The partnership has enabled more talented producers and songwriters to be supported across the three deadlines in 2021 and a closer working relationship between 2021 supported grantees and the Spotify team for promotional and marketing opportunities.

Aaron Buckingham, Songwriter and Publishing Relations at Spotify said,

“We’re thrilled to be supporting the latest recipients of the Hitmaker Fund. The gender imbalance in the songwriting and production sector of the music industry, as well as more widely, is something we are committed to help address. This particular group of talented songwriter and producers are already creating very exciting music and to help them as they embark on the next steps of their careers is something Spotify is very proud of: we look forward to exploring ever more ways of collaboration with them all next year.”

PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker fund is open to UK based behind-the-scenes songwriters, producers and music creators that have had at least three commercially exploited works, whether performed live, received media coverage, radio play, streams or released via commercial channels.

The next round of Hitmaker will be open to all with a deadline in early 2022.

More details and how to apply

Hitmaker applicants can apply for support for:

• Time to create
• Training / Skills courses at places such as Point Blank / SSE
• Creative / Professional development
• Studio hire
• Purchase of equipment / software / hardware (covers up to 25% of costs)
• Tracking
• UK writing space rental / lease
• Maternity leave and childcare

Applications can be made here.  Applicants will need to submit at least two tracks with registered cuts.