Mahogany Songs opens first round of applications for independent artist fund

15 August 2024 - Press release

Mahogany Music Fund opens applications for artists to receive up to £2,500 to support upcoming releases through Mahogany Songs distribution service, launched in May

Survey of Mahogany community finds access to financial support cited as greatest challenge for 42% of independent artists

Mahogany, the global multi-platform music brand best known for the Mahogany Sessions YouTube channel, has established a new fund for early-stage artists and opens its first round of grant applications today.

Following the recent launch of its distribution arm, Mahogany Songs, the Mahogany Music Fund marks the latest stage in the expansion of the company’s independent artist services offering.

The first round of funding will open for artists either currently releasing music through Mahogany Songs or looking to release a future project through the platform, allowing them to apply for grants of up to £2,500 each to supercharge the creation and promotion of their music over the next 12 months.

A panel, including external industry experts, will select up to ten initial grant recipients. In addition to financial investment, the winning artists will benefit from close support from the Mahogany team, whose 15 years of experience has included work with Billie Eilish, Hozier, Michael Kiwanuka and Leon Bridges. This will include one-on-one sessions advising on areas such as campaign strategy, social media and A&R.

By opening access to financial support, the Mahogany Music Fund seeks to address the most widespread challenge faced by the platform’s artist community. A recent survey of 100 creators found funding to be the highest ranking struggle for 42% of respondents, followed by growing an audience (19%) and finding a good team (17%).

Of the areas in which artists would most commonly benefit from financial support, 38% answered they would put any extra funding towards recording costs, followed by digital marketing (20%), and social content creation (11%).

Mahogany Songs provides digital distribution and bespoke artist services with an emphasis on human curation and communication. Since its launch in May, it has received applications from independent artists around the world, including Canada, India, New Zealand, the US and across Europe.

Among its first releases has been the new single from rising singer-songwriter Áine Deane, ‘TALES OF A TWENTY SOMETHING’’, which came out last week following a string of recent performances including Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party. In July Mahogany Songs also released the latest track, ‘Funeral Suit’, from Irish folk artist BLÁNID, whose music has been played by BBC Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music, as well as RTÉ Radio 1 and 2XM.

Artists can apply for funding, as well as to join Mahogany Songs, via the website here. Grant applications close on 27th September.

Dom Wallace, Mahogany’s Label & Marketing Manager, said: “We’ve been absolutely delighted with the high standard of music being submitted to Mahogany Songs from all around the world over the past few months. We’ve been taking meetings/calls with those artists in that time and it’s clear that financial support is a huge issue for the majority of independent artists - especially those from working class backgrounds and outside of London. It’s clear that the music industry needs to do more to help the next generation of storytellers get on their feet - whatever their social background. As someone who has dedicated a career to supporting the under-represented - I’m delighted to bring this opportunity to independent artists.”

James Gaster, Mahogany’s Managing Director, said: “Mahogany Songs was formed as a direct response to the expressed needs of the artists we work with every day. Over the past few months we’ve been humbled by the response to its launch, from both artists and industry, and have been proud to support our growing artist community through strategy, content, promotion and investment. Now with the launch of the first Mahogany Music Fund we’re making another statement of intent, delivering meaningful value and opportunity to those artists in our world.”

Mark Murdoch, Mahogany’s Founder & CEO, added: “The past few years have posed significant challenges for the music and creative communities worldwide, with rising costs impacting nearly every aspect of our industry. At Mahogany, we believe we have a duty to stand by our artists and offer as much support as possible during these trying times.”

Please see below for an overview of Mahogany’s survey results (taken from a poll of 100 independent artists from 2nd August to 13th August 2024):

What do you find the biggest challenge as an independent artist?

Accessing financial support (42%)
Growing an audience (19%)
Finding a good team (17%)
Getting support from tastemakers (radio, streaming, etc) (10%)
Gaining music industry contacts and knowledge (7%)
Sourcing musicians for projects (4%)
Finding studio space (1%)
Other (0%)

If you had access to extra funding - what would be the first thing you would spend it on to help your next project?

Music recording (producers, musicians, mixing, mastering, studio time) (38%)
Digital marketing (20%)
Social content creation (11%)
PR (9%)
Investment in equipment (audio, video, software) (7%)
Touring and gigging (6%)
Music videos (3%)
Radio plugger (3%)
Spotify ads (2%)
Other (1%)
Billboards / physical advertising (0%)