PRS Foundation at The Great Escape 2023

10 years ago at the The Great Escape we launched our ground-breaking Momentum Music Fund, so this year alongside our collaborative #OnTrack takeover we will have some special moments to celebrate a decade of the fund!

To kick start things, we will be launching an independent report on the impact of the PPL Momentum Music Fund with a drinks reception and panel discussion at Leonardo Royal Hotel (formerly Jury’s Inn) on Thursday 11th May 2023. (Open to delegates only)

On Friday 12th May we will again be bringing our joint PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation #OnTrack takeover to the festival for a day of networking, career talks, advice sessions and drinks. (Open to delegates and artist pass holders)

On Saturday 13th May we head to Komedia for our 10 Year’s of PPL Momentum Music Fund Showcase, where we are taking over two floors of the venue from 12-midday with performances from PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Accelerator grantees Anna B Savage, Denzel Himself, Kadeem Tyrell, Chiedu Oraka, Porij, ROE and Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard. (Open to delegates and festival pass holders)

Read the full details below and we hope to see you there!

Thursday 11th May

10 Years of PPL Momentum Music Fund report launch drinks and discussion

Join us from 1:30pm at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Waterfront (Kings Road, BN1 2GS) for a drinks reception in the Promenade Lounge in the foyer and a panel discussion to celebrate 10 years of the pioneering PPL Momentum Music Fund and hear about the impact it has had on the careers of music creators and the music industry more broadly across the UK.

The panel session will take place immediately after the drinks reception at 2:30pm in Conference Room 2 and will be split into two sections, looking at ‘Changing the Funding Game and the Impact for the Wider Industry’ and ‘A ‘Deeper Dive: Cultural and Social Impacts’ and feature:

Peter Leathem OBE (CEO, PPL)
Joe Frankland (CEO, PRS Foundation)
Amy Frenchum (Manager, Yazmin Lacey & Ezra Collective)
Kay Wrate (Warp Publishing)
Sarah Wall (PPL)
Chardine Taylor-Stone (Big Joanie)
Ammo Talwar MBE (UK Music Diversity Task Force; Punch Records)
Joanne Wright (Arts Council of Northern Ireland)
All moderated by Becci Scotcher (PRS Foundation)

Both the drinks reception and the panel are open to those with Great Escape Delegate passes only.

Friday 12th May

PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation #OnTrack at Harbour Hotel

Are you making or performing music and want to earn from your work? Or maybe you need support to take your career to the next level? Come and say hi to PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation at the Harbour Hotel – we’re here to make sure you are #OnTrack. Delegate and artist pass holders can join us on Friday 12 May at the Harbour Hotel (64 Kings Road, Brighton) for a day of networking, 1-2-1s, and a performance and In Conversation session with PRS for Music and PPL members, Bellah and Ms Banks who have received PRS Foundation support.

9:30am – 10:45am – PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation Networking Breakfast

11:00am – 12:00pm – Music Minds Matter presents: Mental health in music – where are we now?

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs 15-21 May. The central topic is anxiety and to mark this occasion Help Musicians’ 24/7 support service Music Minds Matter has gathered experts working in the field alongside music industry stalwarts to discuss their experiences of mental health in our industry.

They will look at how much work is going into turning negative experiences into positive action and guidance, from looking after the health of the biggest of artists to hearing about running the smallest of indie labels and all points in between. With panellists Carroll Thompson (PRS Members’ Fund; Claire Cordeaux – BAPAM), Joe Hastings (Help Musicians), Simon Williams (Fierce Panda) and Tamsin Embleton (Music Industry Therapist Collective)

12:15pm – 1:15pm – Arts Infopoint UK presents: Visas and other barriers to international touring for UK artists

In the last three years, international travel was transformed not only by a pandemic and Brexit, but also by record inflation, civil unrest in many parts of the world, regime changes, and war. Shifting sands of visa, taxes and customs regulations make touring hugely challenging for UK artists who want to tour in the EU, in the US and beyond.

Join this panel of experts for an artist mobility journey as they talk through the experiences of touring artists and what you need to know to tour abroad. With panellists, Skanda Sabbagh, (percussionist (Balimiya Project), music producer, educator & Arts Council England Relationship Manager), Cills Williams, (ATC Live) and co-moderated by Marie Fol, (Cultural Mobility Expert, On The Move, Keychange) and Matthew Covey, Partner, Covey Law & Founder, Tamizdat)

2:00pm – 2:20pm – Bellah (live performance)

3:00pm – 5:00pm – PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation Drinks Party!

5:00pm – 5:45pm – PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation presents: Ms Banks In Conversation

1-2-1 sessions during the day

Team members from PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation will be available from 10:45am – 2:45pm for 15 minute 1-2-1 sessions.

Book your slot and have your questions answered!

Saturday 14th May

PRS Foundation’s ’10 Years of PPL Momentum Music Fund’ Showcase

Join us at Komedia for our showcase marking a decade of the PPL Momentum Music and rounding off our celebratory activities at the festival. Delegates and festival pass holders can join us for an exciting bumper matinee showcase across both the ground floor Studio and downstairs Basement performance spaces of the venue to catch some of the many talented artists to receive PPL Momentum and Momentum Accelerator support:

Basement (downstairs)
3:00pm – Anna B Savage
2:00pm – Denzel Himself
1:00pm – Kadeem Tyrell

Studio (ground floor level)
3:15pm – Chiedu Oraka
2:15pm – Porij
1:15pm – ROE
12:15pm – Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard

About PPL Momentum Music Fund
The PPL Momentum Music Fund is targeted support for artists who have reached a crucial tipping point and are ready to take the next step in their careers.

Managed by PRS Foundation, in partnership with PPL, Creative Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Spotify, the fund awards grants of £5,000-£15,000. 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. PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. PPL Momentum Accelerator (PPL Momentum Sbardun in Wales) is a targeted scheme to support the development of outstanding artists and bands who are writing their own music, and future Industry Professionals, outside London and who face additional barriers in reaching a crucial career tipping point based on their location. Launched as a pilot in Liverpool in 2019, PPL Momentum Accelerator runs in Liverpool City Region, Yorkshire and Wales and run in partnership with Culture Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Music Leeds/ Music Local, Launchpad, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales.

Find out more about PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Accelerator

PRS Foundation grantees across the festival

Also check out the list of #FundedByPRSF artists playing each day at venues across the City from Thursday through to Saturday:

Albertine Sarges – (Keychange (Germany))
Arlo Parks – (BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase)
ANNA B SAVAGE – (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
Anna Bassy – (Keychange (Italy))
Another Sky – (BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase)
Astles – (PPL Momentum Accelerator)
AZIYA – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Becky Sikasa – (POWER UP)
BELLAH – (PPL Momentum Music Fund and International Showcase Fund) #OnTrack performance
Benny Atlas – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Billie Marten – (BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase)
Buzzard, Buzzard, Buzzard – (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
Cheidu Oraka – (PPL Momentum Accelerator) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
CIEL – (International Showcase Fund)
DIEJUVHS– (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Denzel Himself (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
Dream Nails – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Dream Wife (International Showcase Fund and PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Edie Bens – (International Showcase Fund)
English Teacher – (PPL Momentum Accelerator)
GENGAHR – (BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase and PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Grove – (Women Make Music)
HAK BAKER – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
H33RA – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Jessica Winter – (International Showcase Fund and Hitmaker)
JUICE MENACE – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Junodream – (Open Fund for Music Creators)
Kadeem Tyrell – (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
King Hannah – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
K-Trap – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Lady Ice – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
LEMFRECK – (PPL Momentum Accelerator)
Lemonade Shoelace – (The Open Fund and International Showcase Fund)
Lime Garden – (International Showcase Fund)
Mace The Great – (POWER UP and International Showcase Fund)
Maeve – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Mandy Indiana – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Marika Hackman – (Women Make Music)
Ms Banks (PPL Momentum Music Fund) #OnTrack in Conversation
NikNak – (The Oram Awards)
Niks – (Keychange)
Nuha Ruby Ra – (International Showcase Fund)
O. – (International Showcase Fund)
Penelope Trappes – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Porij – (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
Prima Queen – (International Showcase Fund)
Projector – (The Open Fund for Music Creators)
PVA – (International Showcase Fund)
Rebecca Hurn – (The Open Fund for Music Creators and ReBalance)
ROE – (PPL Momentum Music Fund) **10 Years of PPL Momentum Showcase
RUTH LYON (Open Fund for Music Creators and International Showcase Fund)
Saint Joshua – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
San Soucis – (Women Make Music and PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Shelf Lives – (The Open Fund for Music Creators)
Sophie Jamieson – (The Open Fund for Music Creators)
Strawberry Guy – (International Showcase Fund)
The Big Moon – (BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase)
The Goa Express – (International Showcase Fund)
The Heavy Heavy – (International Showcase Fund)
VLURE – (International Showcase Fund and Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition)
William The Conqueror – (International Showcase Fund)
Willie J Healey – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)
Yonaka – (PPL Momentum Music Fund)