PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, has revealed the latest artists that will receive support from the PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Accelerator support in Liverpool City Region and Tees Valley.
The PPL Momentum Music Fund provides 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.
The nine artists who have been selected by a network of industry experts to receive the latest round PPL Momentum Music funding are:
- Chanel Yates – creating new music
- Georgia Ruth – creating and marketing a new album
- JayaHadADream – creating a new mixtape project
- JGrrey – tour to support album release
- Lime Garden – touring across the UK
- Rainy Miller – marketing for sophomore album
- RenzNiro – creating and delivering a new project
- The Halfway Kid – launch show, collaborator fees, marketing and video production for new album
- Trash Boat – touring, recording and promotion for a new record
Folk artist Halfway Kid, aka British-Sudanese songwriter Saeed Gadir, said:
“This fund is a game changer. I feel like I’ve spent my whole career up to this point learning how to make this specific album, and now it’s possible.”
PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, 256 music creators have received this vital support to break through to the next level.
Meanwhile, PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Accelerator offers grants of up to £5,000 to artists with a growing fanbase, currently working to establish a music industry team and based in targeted regions of the UK. The Liverpool City Region-based music creators receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator support, in partnership with MusicFutures, are:
- a Lesser Version – working with engineers to record and release debut studio album
- Amique – tour across Liverpool, Manchester and London
- Grace Elizabeth Harvey – recording, reproduction on vinyl and touring of new EP
- KOJ – collaborations, marketing and licensing new EP
- Zara Smile – creation, recording, and release of sophomore EP
The latest Tees Valley-based music creators receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator support, in partnership with Sonic Futures, Generator, Tees Valley Combined Authority and UK Government, are:
- Marketplace – write, record and release and promote singles across 2026
- Risco – music videos and national tour
- Robyn Errico – recording and release of debut studio album and work with PR company for marketing and promotion
- Smith & Liddle – studio recording, mixing, mastering and promotional costs.
Additionally, PPL Momentum Accelerator support of up to £2,000, which can include micro-grants, mentoring or other holistic support, is offered to future music industry professionals to develop their skills and careers. The three Liverpool City Region and one Tees Valley-based industry professionals receiving support in this latest round are:
- Anna Herbst (Liverpool City Region) – investment in professional creative tools, development of digital marketing skills, and expanding industry connections, strengthening the foundations that help grassroots creativity and community to flourish in Liverpool.
- Basil Reynolds (Liverpool City Region) – focused mentorship and consultancy to strengthen the strategic and commercial foundations of Finding the Music Inside.
- Kieran Irvine (Liverpool City Region) – formalise and scale management practice through professional development, national network-building and improved systems for campaign planning and delivery
- Grace Stubbings (Tees Valley) – strengthen artistic practice, grow community impact, and advance role as an emerging voice in experimental sound and place-based creative education through mentorship deepen technical skills in environmental recording, installation work, and creative leadership.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s brilliant to see our up-and-coming artists and musicians getting hold of this support. We know how much of a difference focused backing can make to getting names out on the national and international stage.
“It offers our talents the freedom, and time, to thrive close to home and I look forward to hearing more about their progress.”
The next deadline to submit an application for the PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Accelerator Sbardun support for those based in Wales is 2 February at 6:00pm. Find out more and apply via prsfoundation.com.
