PRS Foundation congratulates English Teacher on being the latest winner of the Mercury Music Prize

07 September 2024 - Press release

6 out of the last 7 Mercury Prize winners, PRS Foundation has proudly supported through various programmes

During that same period (the last 7 years) almost half of all nominees have received support during their career

PRS Foundation support for English Teacher has included PPL Momentum Accelerator support in 2020 and a talent development bursary through PRS Foundation’s partnership with Glastonbury Festival and PRS for Music for the Emerging Talent Competition in 2022

The win once again highlights the importance of organisations in PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Network, with grant support playing a key role in the band’s early development before industry investment was unlocked 

 

PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development is delighted to congratulate English Teacher on winning this year’s Mercury Music Prize, as well as the 2 other artists nominated for the award - Ghetts and Nia Archives - who have all received support from PRS Foundation to develop their careers in the UK and overseas.

English Teacher have received support during their career through PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Accelerator (Yorkshire) in 2020 before receiving a PRS Foundation talent development bursary as part of Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition in 2022. Additionally, they have had early support and music released on a compilation by PRS Foundation Talent Development Network organisations Come Play with Me and Music:Leeds/ Launchpad. Following this crucial support, English Teacher went on to sign a deal with the legendary, Island Records.

PPL Momentum Accelerator is a partnership between PRS Foundation, PPL and Launchpad, delivered by Music:Leeds / Music Local and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and is a targeted scheme offering grants of up to £5,000 to artists outside London in Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and Wales and who face additional barriers in reaching a crucial career tipping point based on their location.

The Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition is a partnership between PRS Foundation, PRS for Music and Glastonbury Festival that gives new UK and Ireland-based acts of any musical genre the chance to compete for a slot on one of the main stages at the Festival and win a PRS Foundation talent development bursary of £2,500 (for runners-up) or £5,000 (for the winner).

PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Network supports and bring together organisations working at the frontline of talent development across the UK – ensuring transformational support is available to a broad range of music creators based in the UK working at any career level and in any genre.

English Teacher become the sixth winner of the Mercury Prize out of the last 7 that have had PRS Foundation support. Previous winners who have also been supported at vital moments in their career before winning the award include:

• Wolf Alice (2018) – International Showcase Fund
• Dave (2019) – International Showcase Fund
• Arlo Parks (2021) – PRS Foundation & BBC Music Introducing Showcase support
• Little Simz (2022) – PPL Momentum Music Fund International Showcase Fund and PRS Foundation & BBC Music Introducing Showcase support
• Ezra Collective (2023) – PPL Momentum Music Fund, Steve Reid InNOVAtion, BBC Music Introducing & PRS Foundation showcase support

 

Almost half of nominees since 2018 (40 in total) have received support at some point in their career with many more nominees benefiting indirectly through the charity’s support for organisations as well as grantees picking up writing, performing and producing credits on nominated albums.

Joe Frankland, CEO, PRS Foundation says: “We are so excited for English Teacher following the win last night. The Mercury Music Prize recognises so many incredible albums and provides a level of attention that talented artists and creators across the UK and Ireland deserve after years of creativity, innovation and hard graft - whether in the studio or on the road during some of the most challenging times for emerging music creators.

Having proudly supported 6 out of the last 7 Mercury Prize winners at crucial career points, we wanted to take a moment to highlight ever-important role grant funding and targeted development support plays in the journey of artist and creator careers. 

When we launched the PPL Momentum Accelerator programme we recognised that there was so much amazing music being made in regions and nations across the UK but more needed to be done to join the dots and bolster scenes. Thanks to funding from PPL, and Arts Council England, partnership with Music:Leeds/ Launchpad, and our core donation from PRS for Music, many artists in Yorkshire have accessed this targeted support, including those who have gone on to attract international attention, major label backing and now a Mercury Prize! 

Lily Fontaine and the whole band have been vocal about the need for the industry to support new music from the grassroots up, and this advocacy echoes the sentiments of last year’s winners Ezra Collective. It can be no coincidence that each act has accessed transformational support from the non-profit sector, and I am especially proud to have heard another Talent Development Network organisation – Music:Leeds – being thanked at the ceremony. As well as encouraging the government and public funders to support vital non-profit, development focussed efforts, I urge the commercial sector to get behind those who proudly believe in talented creators at an earlier career stage and to support the whole ecosystem so that talent can thrive in the future.”