Lemfreck, Chalk, Ruth Lyon and Harbinger among the 11 talented artists receiving the latest round of PPL Momentum Music Fund support

31 January 2025 - Press release

• Artists from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland selected including recent industry award winners
• L E M F R E C K becomes the fourth PPL Momentum Accelerator grantee to progress career to PPL Momentum Music Fund level

 

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:

Ashley Henry – Touring current album 'Who We Are'

Beauty Sleep – Marketing promotion and touring for sophomore album

Chalk – UK leg of their UK and European tour to promote album ‘CONDITIONS III’

Harbinger – UK leg of a 27-date UK and European tour

Jerome Thomas – Mixing, mastering, PR/ plugging campaign and digital advertising

L E M F R E C K – Promotion, marketing and touring for new EP ‘We’ve Been Here’

Laura Evans – Production and marketing for sophomore album

Lip Filler – Recording, production and release of third EP

Ruth Lyon – Marketing and touring for debut album

Tony Njoku – Album recording, marketing, and special live performances

Tora-I – Audience development, strengthening the relationship between audiences and artist through intimate in-person moments

 

This latest round of grantees from the November 2024 deadline features award winning acts including the Welsh Music Prize 2024 winner L E M F R E C K, Forbes Best Music of 2024 winner Ashley Henry, Northern Ireland Music Prize 2023 Live Act of the Year winner Chalk and Danny Award winning Ruth Lyon who was also recognised on the 2024 Disability Power 100 shortlist.

PPL Momentum Music supported L E M F R E C K said, “Absolutely insane opportunity that will allow me to invest in my artistry, expand my reach, and create impactful projects that push boundaries and elevate my career to new heights.”

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.

John Hendrickse, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said: "We’re delighted to support these 11 incredibly talented artists in this latest round of PPL Momentum Music Fund and the exciting projects that will help push their careers forward. I’m also pleased to see that this round features music creators from across England, Wales & Northern Ireland, many with recent awards for their outstanding contribution to music so far. With the support of PPL Momentum Music funding, we’re looking forward to seeing all our grantees continue to receive more recognition for their talent as their careers move to the next level.”

Kate Reilly, Chief Membership Officer & People Officer at PPL said, “We're delighted to be supporting 11 exceptional UK acts in the recording, touring and promotion of their work through the latest round of the PPL Momentum Music Fund.  It is fantastic to see former PPL Momentum Accelerator grantee L E M F R E C K secure funding for his new EP at a pivotal moment in his career. Congratulations to all 11 acts, we look forward to seeing your music reach and engage new audiences.”

Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales said: “It’s fantastic to see two Welsh artists included in the latest funding round. 2024 was a huge year for L E M F R E C K as the winner of the Welsh Music Prize, while Laura Evans is gathering huge momentum as a female artist. This scheme remains critical to artists who need a vital springboard at key points in their careers, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from both artists in the coming year.”

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said, “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to partner with PRS Foundation on PPL Momentum Music Fund, a vital initiative which enables our artists to take that all important next step in the development of their professional music careers.  We are committed to providing valuable, meaningful opportunities for our artists to develop and reach their full potential.  Congratulations to all the artists taking part in this current round and to Northern Ireland’s Chalk and Beauty Sleep, who will benefit greatly from this support towards touring and marketing their albums.”

PPL Momentum Music Fund is crucial for both music creators’ careers and the wider industry as the10 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 more than 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

 

Following the report’s release in 2023, recent PPL Momentum Music artists continue to make waves and progress their careers. Ezra Collective were awarded the 2023 Mercury Prize (the second PPL Momentum Music fund grantee in a row to do so following Little Simz) Jordan Adetunji released one of the most viral tracks of the last 12-months ‘Kehlani’, and Dry Cleaning picked up a 2024 Grammy Award. 

An evaluation of the PPL Momentum Music Fund and evidence from thousands of applications PRS Foundation receives each year identified talent pipeline gaps across the UK. 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, has run in Liverpool City Region, Wales and Yorkshire.

L E M F R E C K is the fourth 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.  Fellow Wales-based Luke RV and two Yorkshire-based Downtown Kayoto and Chiedu Oraka also first picked up PPL Momentum Accelerator support early in their careers before successfully receiving PPL Momentum Music Fund support. Further recent Accelerator successes include English Teacher winning last year’s Mercury Prize and being shortlisted in this year’s BBC Sound Of 2025.

PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, 220 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 3^rdFebruary 2025 at 6:00pm. Find out more and apply via prsfoundation.com.