Colectiva, Luke RV and Lucia and the Best Boys among the 7 exciting artists receiving PPL Momentum Music Fund support

04 July 2024 - Press release

• Luke RV becomes the third PPL Momentum Accelerator grantee to progress career to PPL Momentum Music Fund level
• 200 artists supported since PPL became headline fund partner in 2020

 

PRS Foundation, the UK's leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, reveal the latest artists that will receive support from the pioneering PPL Momentum Music Fund.

The artists who have been selected by a network of industry experts, are:

• BEL COBAIN – production, PR, marketing, advertising and expansion of the team
• CIEL – recording of debut album
• COLECTIVA – recording of debut album
• IAMDDB – creative costs, elevating and expanding the visions for their LOVE is WAR Tour
• Lizzie Berchie – completing and releasing a new EP, 'Night Shift'
• Luke RV – recording, touring and promoting debut album
• Lucia & The Best Boys – UK tour with The Last Dinner Party

 

PPL Momentum Music supported CIEL said, "This PPL Momentum Music funding enables us to record our debut album. It is crucial in allowing us to take the next step in our careers."

PPL Momentum Music Fund is the ground-breaking support for artists who have reached a crucial tipping point, have a team already in place and ready to take the next step in their careers. Managed by PRS Foundation, the PPL Momentum Music Fund awards grants of £5,000-£15,000 using funds from PRS Foundation, PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Luke RV is the third artist to have progressed their career to a tipping point and be eligible to apply for and receive the PPL Momentum Music Fund after initially receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator support.  Wales-based Luke RV follows the two Yorkshire-based Downtown Kayoto and Chiedu Oraka who also first picked up PPL Momentum Accelerator support early in their careers before recently successfully receiving PPL Momentum Music Fund support.

PPL Momentum Accelerator funding supports exciting artists with a growing fanbase and who are working to establish a music industry team.  Artists can receive up to £5,000 as well as mentoring from regional and national experts. Early career industry professionals, who play pivotal roles in the local scenes can receive support as combinations of small grants, mentoring or other holistic support. PPL Momentum Accelerator Liverpool City Region is run by PRS Foundation in partnership with, the Liverpool City Region Music Board, Culture Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator is in partnership with Arts Council of Wales.

John Hendrickse, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said: "Huge congratulations to all 7 artists receiving our pioneering PPL Momentum Music Fund support to enable them to breakthrough to that next level in their careers – I'm very much looking forward to seeing the impact of the support. We know how important targeted support is for music creators at different points in their career. Its fantastic to see Luke RV follow Downtown Kayoto and Chiedu Oraka progress their careers, after initially receiving the PPL Momentum Accelerator support early on, to PPL Momentum Music Fund tipping point level."

Kate Reilly, Chief Membership & People Officer, PPL said, "Congratulations to all the new recipients. Having helped 200 acts since we became headline partner for the PPL Momentum Music Fund, we're delighted to support seven more wonderful acts develop their music careers whether recording, touring or promoting their work in the coming months."

Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales, said: "Luke RV began his rapping career in a small South-West Wales town, where his lyrics focused on his early years and local issues.

Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength, having amassed over a million listening streams, collaborated with some other major Welsh artists like Juice Menace and Mace the Great, performed at major UK festivals and even been shortlisted for a Welsh Music Prize. The support from the PPL Momentum fund will give Luke RV a vital boost and create new opportunities for him to create and promote new music, Creative Wales wishes him every success for an exciting future."

PPL Momentum Music Fund is crucial for both music creators' careers and the wider industry as the recent 10 Years of Momentum Report (2013-23) found. To date, the fund has been transformational with over £5.2 million awarded to artists across the whole of the UK, resulting in:

• Helping to generate £22 million for the UK music industry
• Over 500 artists awarded PPL Momentum Music Fund support
• Creation of 275 albums (including Mercury Prize nominated albums and dozens of top twenty chart placements)
• Support for over 300 UK tours and over 1,600 live dates
• Over 7,300 applications received over 40 funding rounds with a 7% success rate of funds being granted

 

Through a 2018 evaluation of the PPL Momentum Music Fund, and evidence from thousands of applications PRS Foundation receives each year, talent pipeline gaps across the UK were identified. Many music creators show strong musical potential but are unable to capitalise upon this due to financial barriers, gaps in regional infrastructure, knowledge, advice, and access to industry platforms.

PPL Momentum Accelerator was subsequently launched as a targeted scheme to support the development of outstanding artists and bands who are writing their own music, and early career 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, currently runs in Liverpool City Region, Wales and Yorkshire.

PPL became headline fund partner of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, 200 talented music creators at tipping points in their careers have received this vital support to break through to the next level.

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.

Next deadline to submit an application for PPL Momentum Music Fund support is 5th August 2024 at 6:00pm.  Applications can be made through PRS Foundation's website.