Scottish bands and solo musicians will get grants of up to £15,000 to help them cut an album, go on tour or break into music streaming under a new link-up with arts funders.
The new Momentum Music Fund from Creative Scotland and the Performing Rights Society Foundation will help with recording, touring and marketing Scottish artists at crucial "tipping points" in their career to help them reach the next stage of their career.
The PRS Foundation, a music development charity funded by PRS for Music, the UK’s royalty collection society, is announcing the new partnership with Creative Scotland, the public development body for the arts and creative industries, to offer musicians a share of fund in Edinburgh.
Comment: Amazing to know someone has your back in the music industry
Since a pilot scheme was tested south of the Border from 2013, the Momentum Music Fund has established a reputation for funding, supporting and spotlighting talent at critical times in their careers.
Fully revealed at Wide Days 2018, a forum for Scottish music businesses and artists to connect with the international industry, the new set up will allow more talented artists from across the UK at the right career stage to apply for vital support to aid their development.
The pioneering push provides career-boosting grants of between £5,000- £15,000 to acts at a pivotal time in their professional development.
Until today only artists based in England were eligible for funding while it was being fine tuned, but now, Scottish artists can apply for funding to support activities such as recording, touring and marketing.
Comment: Amazing to know someone has your back in the music industry
Artists must be at that "tipping point" in their careers, showing current progression and growth with significant potential to continue developing.
The fund boasts success stories including Anna Meredith, Years & Years, Little Simz, who is pictured above, Public Service Broadcasting, Bugzy Malone, Yungen, Lapsley and Oh Wonder.
Alan Morrison, above, head of music, Creative Scotland, said: “There’s so much more to succeeding in the music industry these days than just writing great songs.
"Musicians today really need to know how to handle a crowdfunding campaign, get access to influential streaming playlists and generally improve their business skills.
"That’s where the Momentum Music Fund steps in, working with acts who have already got themselves onto the ladder and helping them climb a few rungs higher."
Dr Adam Behr, above lecturer in contemporary and popular music at Newcastle and formerly Edinburgh University, said the move "doesn't guarantee long-term security but it’s still a crucial step for those breakthrough artists".
He said: "The grants of £5,000 to £15,000 available for artists at what PRS Foundation calls a ‘tipping point’ in their careers, will be a welcome step towards unlocking the potential of Scottish acts.
"It also appears to indicate increasing support for popular music from Creative Scotland, which added the Scottish Music Industry Association to its roster of organisations receiving regular funding earlier this year amid an otherwise fraught funding round that saw it having to row back on a number of cuts elsewhere.
"But the Momentum Fund itself is no magic bullet."
Comment: Amazing to know someone has your back in the music industry
He said: "Several accounts have shown that for all its wealth of talent, Scotland is short on the supporting businesses to fully nurture it.
"Indeed, the Scottish Music Industry Association itself acknowledges that Scotland lacks the 'infrastructure, to support and capitalise on the creative output' with many acts legal and management functions residing elsewhere, often London, once they get past that ‘tipping point’ of industry success."
Vanessa Reed, chief executive at PRS Foundation said: “Thanks to Creative Scotland, we can now offer support to the many talented and independent Scottish artists who need support and industry exposure to take their music to the next level.
"This is an excellent example of how public funders and industry partners, including PPL and Spotify, can work together in response to the needs of diverse artists and the potential for seed funding to unlock sustainable careers.
"I look forward to seeing the range of Scottish acts that apply and to combining the expertise of our Scottish partners with input from industry experts when making decisions on who makes it through.”
Since 2013 the Momentum Music Fund has supported over 270 artists, over 160 new albums south of the Border and more than 170 totalling over 1,000 UK live dates.
Cash comes from fund manager PRS Foundation, PPL, which licenses recorded music played in public, and Creative Scotland.
Spotify contributes additional funding and a reward package containing promotional opportunities and a close working relationship between artists and the Spotify team.
The next deadline for application submissions is May 29 2018 at 6.00pm.
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