PRS Foundation announces the eleventh round of promoters supported through the Early Career Promoters Fund
- Since Round 1 over £550k in support has been issued to over 185 early career promoters
- 78.9% are based outside London (for the eleventh round)
- Nearly 60% of funded grantees are women and gender diverse
- Early Career Promoter Fund is currently open for applications and closes on 30th October, 2025 – Deadlines
We’re excited to announce the seventh round of promoters receiving the targeted Early Career Promoter Fund, supported by Arts Council England using strategic funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The 16 early career promoters, selected for support by a network of specialist music industry advisors, are:
Nyal Rajput : Rebranding, 3 ticketed club shows, the Disrupted event series, good night out training, NTIA conference, the launch of a record label, pop up events
PJ Cunningham: Create & promote event trilogy in Manchester that showcases early career North West musical theatre & pop artists to create collaboration opportunities and develop audience
Antonio Chikhungu : A travelling event concept connecting local regions through interconnected series of in sync curation, artists perform in hometown and another local town/city
Ethan Cohen: Funding for two events at number 90 hideout (450 cap)
Georgia Collins: I would like to curate an experimental ritual-based event, showcasing musicians and sound artists working in alignment with contemporary folklore and nature
Christopher Peltier: DUB-It! Live, the promotion of the organic development of semi-freestyle analogue reggae musical events, building on local historic soundsystem culture and infrastructure across the region.
Carey Mackenzie: Develop my brand, reach new audiences and build new relationships by working with local LGBTQ+ musicians to promote a regional tour
Jelizaveta Tarassova: We want to grow into established *fun* party who merge local artists and introduces underrepresented artists from abroad.
Jacqui Powell: A classical reggae event bringing together all cultures through music and engagement which is live streamed online for those that cannot attend
Georgia Shackleton: Programming promoting and maintaining ‘Folk at Yalm’, an accessible & inclusive concert series in a non – traditional venue
Emma Ryalls: To scale up Groove Junction events in Salisbury by working with a bigger venue and booking disabled artists from around the UK
Matthew Comiskey: 2 nights, in Q4 of 2025/Q2 of 2026 with a headliner DJ and MC and local artists that compliment the style of the headliner
Myles Noble: AFTERBLOOM: the perfect late night mix of jazz improvisation, electronica, and dance music — an invitation to explore sound, movement, and connection
Kashana Catlyn: Organising and promoting a two-date UK tour for Korean R&B artist G.Soul in London and Manchester, focused on growing East Asian music audiences
Henry Everett: Growing Club Citrus through accessible, inclusive events that showcase underrepresented artists and support East London’s disappearing small venue scene
Samuel Mannell: We want to put on an event to bring UK electronic James Shinra to London for a headline show
The Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England and within the nighttime economy, and offers grant funding and capacity building support for individual promoters, with the aim of bolstering the grassroots music ecosystems.
Grants of up to £3,500 are available to support a range of activity, including:
- The booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances
- Costs associated with those activities (including venue hire, production, artist and/or DJ fees, crew fees, administration and other related costs)
- Capacity building (including mentoring, coaching, shadowing, workshops, masterclasses, and other skill building and networking opportunities)
- Other expenditure which helps grantees to programme a diverse range of artists, develop new audiences and build their skills
The fund aims to help emerging promoters to do what they do best – book and promote shows to develop scenes, support artists and DJs and to reach and engage audiences locally, regionally, and nationally, and build sustainable careers in the grassroots music sector. Those receiving support will be able to step up to book and promote talent at a scale beyond their current level, and build their capacity, skills and networks.
Managed by PRS Foundation and funded by Arts Council England using Supporting Grassroots Music funding from DCMS, the Early Career Promoter Fund also aims to help address underrepresentation, ensuring support reaches a diverse range of promoters, and proactively encouraging grantees to support a diverse range of artists and music genres nationwide.
This announcement of supported promoters is from applicants to the 10th July 2025 deadline. Successful grantees from subsequent deadlines will be announced over PRS Foundation’s social media over the coming months.
Promoters can find out more information and apply for Early Career Promoter Fund support from PRS Foundation’s website.
