POWER UP is an ambitious, long-term initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.
Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group and the Black Music Coalition, the initiative brings several music industry partners and goes beyond solidarity, with new approaches which foster meaningful change. Other supporters include Creative Scotland, Believe, Simkins, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Wales, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Culture Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, plus AIM, the BPI, the FAC, The Ivors Academy, the MMF, the MPA, MPG, The Musicians’ Union, PPL, PRS for Music, the PRS Members’ Fund and Believe as well as Associate Partner, Daft Springer, who each bring added-value support to POWER UP Participants.
Through a holistic POWER UP Participant Programme and the POWER UP Movement, we will break down barriers to create:
- A fairer, more equitable music industry for Black creators and industry professionals
- Better representation in all sectors of the UK music industry
- To support innovative and exciting Black talent to create exceptional new music in all genres and at all career levels
- To amplify the work of Black creators and industry professionals to accelerate change
Since launching in early 2021 we have been powering up 120 Black music creators and industry professionals, the initiative was awarded an IMPALA Changemaker Award in 2022.
See below for more information on the participant programme, our network and the wider movement.
