About PRS Foundation

We are the UK’s leading funder of new music and talent development.

Our mission:

We invest in the future of music by supporting talent development and new music across the UK; enabling songwriters and composers of all backgrounds to realise their potential and reach audiences across the world.

Since March 2000 we have supported over 7,300 new music initiatives to the tune of over £41 million. We do this through open grant schemes which are available to musicians and organisations and partnership programmes which we lead in response to specific needs and gaps in funding.

Because of our specialist knowledge of the music sector, our support is seen as an indication of quality and innovation. We are also proud to be widely respected as an adventurous, and straightforward organisation and to have established a strong track record as funder of a broad range of activity – from unsigned band showcases and professional development programmes to music commissions and composer residencies.

Our History

PRS for Music had been supporting new music since 1953 by reacting to applications for support as and when they arrived. In the late 60s, PRS for Music was receiving so many applications that it set up a Donations and Awards Committee which, by the late 90’s, was distributing about 1/4 million pounds per year.

In 1999, as part of its drive for greater accuracy and efficiency in royalty distributions to members, the PRS for Music Board charged a taskforce of PRS for Music staff and Board members to determine the best way of consolidating and continuing its support for new music in the UK. Their research resulted in the launch of an independent charitable foundation for new music of any genre: PRS Foundation which now receives £3m per year from PRS for Music.

We gratefully acknowledge the continuing support of the PRS for Music Board and membership. For more information about PRS for Music, please visit www.prsformusic.com