DJ ACE, NikNak, Swindle, Dionne Bennett and Eddie Agyemang among the 40 POWER UP Year 6 Participants

• 40 Black music creators and industry professionals to receive career-changing support in POWER UP’s sixth year
• POWER UP Participant network now features more than 240 Black music creators and industry professionals, bringing a huge array of experiences and considerable expertise together – winning awards and breaking through glass ceilings
• POWER UP builds on partnerships with new support from Metropolis Studios and Openstage, and extended commitment from Amazon Music

POWER UP today announces the music creators, industry professionals and executives who will make up Year 6 of the award-winning initiative and extended commitments from existing supporter Amazon Music and new industry partnerships with Metropolis Studios and Openstage to benefit the POWER UP network and movement.

Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter, POWER UP elevates pioneering Black talent and addresses anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

Year 6 POWER UP Participants

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 capacity building masterclasses, mentoring, coaching, mental health and wellbeing support, transformational grant support of up to £10,000 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 1,900 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.

The 40 talented music creators and industry professionals joining the POWER UP Participant network, selected by a panel of experts, are:

Music Creators

Music Industry Professionals

The Year 6 cohort features award winning and nominated music creators across MOBOs, RPS, Jazz FM and BBC Introducing Artist of the Year as well as exceptional executives and professionals working across the industry in law, A&R, talent development and broadcasting, alongside founders and co-founders of organisations.

Find out more about each of the Year 6 Participants here.

Our wider POWER UP Movement is harnessing the experiences of participants and Executive Steering Committee members to inform powerful, meaningful and wide-reaching action. This 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.

Extended support from Amazon Music and new partnerships with Metropolis Studios and Openstage

POWER UP is delighted to reveal Amazon Music will be deepening their support building on the pilot residential in Manchester last year, spaces for meet ups/networking and extra support, alongside new partnerships from Metropolis Studios and Openstage – bolstering and broadening the changemaking initiative.

The Metropolis Studios partnership will bring 2, 3-day writing camps across 2 of their cutting-edge studios and a number of new collaborative projects utilising Metropolis Studios spaces for each project plus additional studio allocation.

Openstage are providing practical training on direct-to-fan strategy through their framework called Inside Out. This add-on to the participant programme teaches artists and their teams how to build their world, invite fans in, grow their audience, and deepen fan relationships, and is being run for POWER UP fellows from previous years in addition to the support offered to new cohort members.

You can listen to music from the POWER UP network of Participants in a new POWER UP Amazon Music playlist that will be updated monthly.

These new partnerships come as POWER UP strengthens its role as a leading and multi-award-winning initiative, investing in, connecting and championing Black music creators, industry professionals and executives while addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. At this year’s SXSW London festival, POWER UP held the only Black music networking event at the festival and Participants continue to lead the way breaking through glass ceilings, winning, gaining promotions, awards and seats on Boards.

A snapshot of Years 1 – 5 Participant successes so far include:

• Ego Ella May, Donae’O, Natalie Maddix and Ashaine White received nominations for this year’s AIM Awards. In 2024 Keturah Cummings was nominated at the AIM Awards for Music Entrepreneur of the Year before picking up Entrepreneur of the Year at the Young Music Boss Awards 2025
• Nick Eziefula had a column in City AM and was included in Billboard’s annual list of “Top Music Lawyers”
• Sheila Maurice-Grey and Noushy performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert as part of Kokoroko
• Jeremiah Gogo entered a joint venture with HYBE Music, with POWER UP support being integral
• Josh Daniel was appointed this year to the BPI’s Equity and Justice Advisory Group and Osama Izevbigie and Christine Osazuwa joined the Recording Academy Grammy Awards voting committee
• Chiedu Oraka will be supporting The Streets on their 2026 stadium and arena tour
• Donae’O, Eunice Obianagha, Nick Eziefula and Selina Wedderburn were appointed to the POWER UP Executive Steering Committee
• Elise Brown’s composer client Anthony Davis had one of his pieces performed at the BBC Proms 2025
• 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.
• 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 at the 2025 awards for the second time, at the 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.
• 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 Holland 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.
• 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), and Christine 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.

Ben Wynter, Co-Founder of POWER UP said, ” “Meeting our Year 6 cohort at the Roundhouse last week was one of those moments that reminds you exactly why POWER UP exists. The ambition, curiosity and determination in the room was incredible. Black talent has never been in short supply; access has. Too many people are still locked out of the knowledge, networks and capital that help careers and businesses grow. POWER UP exists to change that. Over the past six years we’ve invested millions into Black talent while providing tailored capacity-building support to each participant, helping people develop the skills, relationships and opportunities needed to build long-term success.

I’m incredibly proud that, alongside the continued commitment of Amazon Music, we’ve welcomed new partners Openstage and Metropolis Studios as we continue to evolve the programme to meet the changing needs of Black creators and industry professionals. Later this year we’ll publish our independent five-year impact report, and I believe it will put beyond reasonable doubt what we’ve seen first-hand for years: investing in Black talent doesn’t just transform individual careers, it strengthens our industry, drives innovation and creates wider economic value. The achievements of our participants already speak for themselves; now we’ll have the data to prove it.”

Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation said, ““We had the pleasure of meeting our Year 6 cohort last week at the Roundhouse and have to say it was inspiring meeting so many passionate people from all sectors and all parts of the UK. Through what is now a 240-strong network, POWER UP is proving that when you invest in Black talent, Black talent thrives. I look forward to launching an independent impact report later in the year to show how much this is for the benefit of everyone in the music industry.”

Sheryl Nwosu, Lawyer, and Chair of the Black Music Coalition said, “The Power Up program continues to grow from strength to strength, and to be clear that strength is in the talented individuals who for five years now six are the centre point of its aims. Over 240 participants have now benefited from what remains the clear goal of Power Up: to support and empower Black creatives and industry professionals, and by doing so year by year, creating an industry playing field that all of our supporters remain committed to redefining. The Black Music Coalition remain staunch supporters of Power Up and continue to encourage other organisations to give their time, money and proactive support to what is an undeniable and continuing success story!”

Paul Redding, CEO, Beggars Group said, “The last five years of POWER UP has been a journey delivering meaningful change for both our industry and each cohort.  We are proud to support year six and look forward to watching POWER UP gaining even more momentum through 2026 and 2027 as we welcome another group of incredible participants.”

Laura Lukanz, Head of Music Industry at Amazon Music UK said, “At Amazon Music, we believe in the power of music to connect communities and change lives. We are immensely proud to continue supporting POWER UP as it enters its sixth year, deepening our commitment by building on last year’s Manchester residential with new spaces for collaboration, networking and creative development. Over five years, we’ve watched this initiative grow into a network of more than 240 extraordinary Black music creators and industry professionals who are breaking barriers and leading from the front. Watching POWER UP alumni win awards, land leadership roles and reshape the conversation around equity in music is exactly why we keep showing up.”

Richard Connell, CEO at Metropolis Studios said, “As a world-leading recording studio, we believe we have a responsibility not only to celebrate creativity, but to expand access and help create the conditions in which it can thrive. POWER UP has established itself as one of the UK’s most important initiatives for driving meaningful change for Black music creators and industry professionals, and we’re proud to support its next chapter.”

Grant Tilbury, Head of Artist Success, Openstage said, “Talent has never been the barrier for Black creators. Access has. The real power of POWER UP is its network, and our job is to add a practical layer to it. Our Inside Out framework shows participants and their teams how to build their world, invite fans in, and own those fan relationships outright rather than renting an audience from a platform. When an artist owns their fanbase, they own their leverage. Six years in, POWER UP keeps proving that investing in Black talent lifts the whole industry.”

Ends.

For further information please contact:

Liam McMahon, Senior Communications Manager, PRS Foundation
liam@prsfoundation.com / 0783462985

Notes to Editors

About POWER UP

POWER UP is the multi-award-winning long-term initiative driving meaningful change by investing in Black music creators, industry professionals and executives. Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter in 2021, and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with Beggars Group and the Black Music Coalition. POWER UP connects multiple music industry partners to move beyond statements of solidarity and deliver practical support, visibility and meaningful change.

Supporters include Amazon Music, Universal Music, Simkins, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Wales, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Openstage and Metropolis Studios, plus AIM, the BPI, the FAC, The Ivors Academy, the MMF, the MPA, MPG, The Musicians’ Union, PPL, PRS for Music and the PRS Members’ Fund.

At its core, POWER UP is built on the belief that investing in Black talent benefits the whole UK music industry. Announced alongside the premiere of ‘Time To Power Up’, the initiative to date has supported over 240 Black music creators and professionals through grant support, capacity building, mentoring and coaching, marketing support, mental health and first aid training, and in-kind support from partners investing circa £5 million.

An Executive Steering Group (ESC) was established in late 2020 featuring some of the most influential Black professionals in the UK music industry.  Alongside the ESC, seven focus groups covering Recording and Publishing, Live, Platforms, Gender, Sexuality, Enterprise and Regionality delved deeper into the barriers Black music creators and professionals have experienced across the sector and how they could be addressed.

Together, POWER UP is breaking down barriers towards a fairer, more equitable music industry by directly investing grant support in innovative Black talent, connecting grantees via a peer network of 200+ Black music creators and industry professionals, and championing Black voices to accelerate change through two strands: the POWER UP Participant Programme and the POWER UP Movement.

In alliance with the Black Music Coalition, the POWER UP Movement sets targets and applies industry pressure to increase Black representation, empower and advocate for Black talent and industry professionals, influence policy and shape the future of music. When you invest in Black talent, Black talent thrives.

In 2022, POWER UP was awarded the inaugural IMPALA Changemaker Award, recognising the scale and speed of impact being made while recommending partnerships and similar initiatives in the independent sectors across Europe.  Additionally, most recently in November 2023, POWER UP picked up Music Week’s Women In Music Awards DE&I Initiative Award recognising specific initiatives from a business or organisation that has gone the extra mile to champion diversity and inclusion both internally and externally.

About PRS Foundation

PRS Foundation has for 25 years invested in the future of music – funding new music and supporting careers from the grassroots up. Since 2000, PRS Foundation has given more than £50 million to over 9,000 new music initiatives. 6 out of the last 7 Mercury Prize winners had received PRS Foundation support (including recent winner English Teacher) and the charity has supported BRITS, RPS, AIM and Ivors Award-winners.

PRS Foundation supports outstanding talent from all backgrounds, covering the whole of the UK and all genres, with grantee success stories including Little Simz, Wolf Alice, Dave, Sam Fender, Years & Years, AJ Tracey, Anna Meredith, Yola, Glass Animals, Ezra Collective, Jade Bird, Ghetts, Shiva Feshareki, Sarathy Korwar, Floating Points, Nadine Shah, The Fanatix, Imogen Heap, IDLES, Kae Tempest, Kojey Radical and Emily Burns.

Widely respected as an inclusive, collaborative and proactive funding body, PRS Foundation supports an exceptional range of new music activity through direct grants to music creators and through support for pioneering organisations, including venues, festivals, promoters and other talent development organisations. www.prsfoundation.com

About Ben Wynter

 Ben Wynter is an award-winning music executive, entrepreneur, investor and strategic advisor with more than 20 years’ experience across music, media and the creative industries. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Unstoppable Ventures, an investment platform backing underrepresented founders, and Co-Founder of POWER UP, the award-winning initiative that has invested more than £5 million in Black music creators and industry professionals. Ben is a Trustee of The Diana Award and Brent Music Academy, advises organisations across the creative economy, and contributes to industry and government initiatives shaping the future of music, entrepreneurship and investment. In 2026, he was recognised on the INvolve Empower Executive Role Model List, supported by YouTube, celebrating the world’s most influential executives driving inclusion.