PledgeMusic and Help MusiciansUK have launched a new £50,000 talent development fund to benefit emerging artists.
Targeting acts with a genuine ‘DIY’ drive to build a long-term career, the scheme will enable selected artists to run their own PledgeMusic campaign and to access a top-up grant from Help Musicians UK once they hit their funding target.The fund is open to all music genres and will prioritise emerging artists who aren’t currently receiving significant financial backing from third party sources (label, publishing etc.), but clearly at or nearing a career ‘tipping point’ with growing media interest, demonstrable live activity and an engaged fan-base.
The Emerging Artists Fund will run from May 2015 to May 2016 with three submission rounds. A panel of high profile tastemakers and music industry experts will select eight artists/bands at each round. Applications will be accepted between 1st-29th May 2015, 1st-31st August 2015 and 2nd-30th November 2015.
Round One of the Emerging Artists Fund ran in May 2015 and garnered publicity and support online from publications such as PRS For Music, The Unsigned Guide, and Music Week. In addition, more than 100 bands applied for the funding. The selection panel that narrowed down the applicants to the final nine included 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, award-winning producer and Music Producers Guild chairman Steve Levine, Kwame Kwaten (KKMC Management), Sean Adams (Drowned In Sound), Polydor A&R Tor Ree and singer/songwriter Shelly Poole (Red Sky July).
“Teaming up with Help Musicians UK ideally fits the PledgeMusic ethos every which way,” says Paul Barton, PledgeMusic UK Managing Director. “The direct-to-fan model that PledgeMusic offers new, emerging artists and bands is an entry route into a career in music and from day one, PledgeMusic has incorporated charity work and contributions into its campaigns. Working with Help Musicians UK is a most welcome expansion of this principle”.
Tim Foxon, Help Musicians UK’s Talent Programme Manager, sees the arrangement too as a great fit with the organisation’s aims and objectives. “In a challenging funding landscape, we’ve been looking at new ways to channel much-needed support to musicians in the early stages of their careers. We’re thrilled to be working with PledgeMusic to identify some exciting upcoming acts for whom we hope this investment will make a significant impact.”
Applications can be submitted on the PledgeMusic site, here:
Other emerging artists on PledgeMusic: http://www.pledgemusic.com/emerging
Great piece. Will be sharing it with some artists I know who could really put this scheme to work!