Punch Records: Talent Development Fund 2020
PUNCH stands with thriving contemporary Black music genres – supporting authentic musicians moving up from the street to both the studio and stage through joined-up and practical growth programmes.
GALLERY37 develops emerging musicians;
NEXT LEVEL coaches flourishing talent and
WELCOME TO MY CITY spotlights early-career artists.
Born in Birmingham in 2002, PUNCH’s mission is to transform lives through music. PUNCH work nationally and internationally; touring and commissioning new work and supporting breaking artists. PUNCH balances their time between work with emerging artists and professionals, and has a track-record of delivering award-winning, large scale public programming.
2020 – 2021:
A programme of practical peer activities and creative coaching including bootcamps, performances and studio sessions building the professional and commercial acumen of UK BME artists.
PRS investment supports and develops emerging and early career artists across a range of contemporary Black music genres, including UK HIP HOP, GRIME and AFROBEATS. PUNCH’s programme participants are typically 16-24 years old and based in or around Birmingham, with increasing representation of musicians from other towns with a similar social profile – Coventry, Wolverhampton, Walsall and the Black Country.
The programme portfolio spans a diversity of practice as well as ability. Singer-songwriters and beatmakers are well-represented in projects aimed at emerging musicians, with powerful performers and genre-defying artists taking part in early-career development work.