PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, today announces the latest artists to receive UK-wide support from the PPL Momentum Music Fund and the Wales-based artists and industry professionals receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator | Sbardun support.
The PPL Momentum Music Fund is in partnership with PPL, the Welsh Government via Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and the PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator is in partnership with Arts Council of Wales. The artists selected by a network of industry experts to receive PPL Momentum Music funding are:
- Amelia Coburn – New album mixing, mastering and marketing
- BLACKGOLD – New music recording, release, touring, PR & Marketing
- Cameo Blush – New EP marketing campaign to build international reach and touring
- Catch – Touring costs including production
- Frey – New EP creation including session costs
- GANS – Fourth headline UK tour
- Jasmine Jethwa – Live arrangements and stage designs for UK tour as well as live recordings
- Maddie Ashman – Production for debut album and UK/EU tour
- Momoko Gill – Marketing and PR for global jazz and experimental markets
- ROZZZQWEEN – Develop and record new music, collaborate with producers and PR, radio and digital promotion
- SOAPBOX – Debut album recording
- Vower – Producing physical product, music videos and develop live performance for debut album
This latest round of artists ready to take the next step in their careers features those making waves in the music press such as Cameo Blush, Vower, Jasmine Jethwa and BLACKGOLD, with coverage in Clash, Kerrang!, Femmusic and Moshville Times respectively. Jazzwise has described ROZZZQWEEN as one of “The sounds of the future”, while The Arts Desk urged readers in its review of Amelia Coburn to: “Buy her album. Catch her live. She’s a true talent, right at the start of things”.
PPL Momentum Music supported-Vower said, “Receiving the PPL Momentum Music Fund allows us to invest even further into our debut album campaign and make the biggest impact possible at such a crucial stage in our career.”
The 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 are 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, the Welsh Government via Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Accelerator offers grants of up to £5,000 to talented artists with a growing fanbase, currently working to establish a music industry team and based in targeted regions of the UK.
The four Wales-based music creators receiving PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator support, which is in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, are:
- Aleighcia Scott – Touring debut album ‘Taith’ with bilingual live show and promotional campaigns
- Meilir Tee Evans – A series of filmed live sessions in the landscapes, including quarries and mountain tops, that inspired the tracks on forthcoming album
- sorry stacy – Audiovisual content for new EP ‘Hello World’, and strengthening the project with relevant coaching
- The Family Battenberg – 9-date debut album headline tour
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 two Wales-based industry professionals receiving support this round are:
- Keys Barber – Developing ‘Lefel’, to connect four emerging, disabled artists to leading music industry professionals, equipping them with knowledge, networks and opportunities to build sustainable careers in Wales
- Kieron Shand – Development of the platform ‘Garlleg’ to expand its reach, strengthen its presence within Wales’ creative community and create more opportunities for emerging artists
Since PPL Momentum Accelerator’s launch, five artists have progressed their career to a tipping point and become eligible to apply for and receive the PPL Momentum Music Fund after initially receiving PPL Momentum Accelerator support. Lucas Alexander and fellow Wales-based LEMFRECK and Luke RV as well as the two Yorkshire-based Downtown Kayoto and Chiedu Oraka all 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 2024’s Mercury Prize and BRITs Critics’ Choice 2026 winner Jacob Alon with Liverpool industry professional Abby Meysenburg in their management team.
PPL became headline sponsors of the Momentum Music Fund in February 2020. Since then, 277 talented music creators at tipping points in their careers have received this vital support to break through to the next level.
The first 50 rounds of the PPL Momentum Music Fund have supported:
- The creation of 329 albums (including dozens of top twenty chart placements)
- Support for over 300 UK tours and over 1,600 live dates
- Artists who have received PPL Momentum Music Fund support have gone on to receive 7 Mercury Prizes, 13 MOBO Awards and 6 BRIT Awards
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.
