Joe Frankland: Last News

Music charity the PRS Foundation last week unveiled a new report at the Great Escape Conference in Brighton all about its Momentum Music Fund, which was formally launched at the showcase festival ten years ago.Originally with primary funding from Arts Council England, and now supported by collecting society PPL – as well as Creative Wales, Arts Council Of Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Spotify – the Momentum scheme “provides career-boosting grants of between £5000-£15,000 to acts at a pivotal time in their creative and business development”.Over its first decade in existence, the fund has awarded £5.2 million to 526 artists across the UK, helping support the production of 275 albums – including Mercury Prize shortlisted records – and over 300 tours and 1600 shows.The stats published last week also demonstrate how the fund seeks to help facilitate more diversity in the music industry.The Foundation said that 49.5% of Momentum grants have been awarded to artists of black, Asian or other ethnically diverse heritage; 51% of grants have gone to artists based outside London; and 47.9% of grantees identify as women, gender expansive artists or are in mixed gender groups.Commenting on the new report, PRS Foundation CEO Joe Frankland said: “The PPL Momentum Music Fund reaching ten years is a fantastic milestone and it’s clear to see the impact it continues to have on the UK music industry.

Glastonbury has announced the 90 finalists for the 2025 edition of the Emerging Talent Competition.The free-to-enter contest gives up-and-coming musicians the chance to play at one of the festival’s main stages. The contest is supported by PRS for Music and the PRS Foundation and the acts were picked by Glastonbury‘s judging panel, which is made up of 30 of the UK’s best online music writers.The 90 finalists will be narrowed down to a shortlist of eight acts, who will then compete at the live finals next month for a chance to play at one of the main stages at the annual Worthy Farm music bash.

DEALSBucks Music Group has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Balimaya Project founder Yahael Camara-Onono. Bucks’ Director A&R Sarah Liversedge Platz says: “Yahael Camara-Onono is a really exciting musician and songwriter.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK’s Music Managers Forum new report on the topic of digital burnout and the wider debate around pressures being placed by the music industry on artists – particularly female artists – to be heavily active on TikTok, plus the petition calling on UK song rights collecting society PRS to reconsider its decision to reduce the funding it provides to the PRS Foundation.

Glastonbury Festival has announced the return of the Emerging Talent Competition for 2022.The annual contest sees rising talent submitting their music in the hopes of winning a slot on one of the festival’s main stages.Supported by PRS For Music and the PRS Foundation, the 2022 Emerging Talent Competition will open for applications from Monday (January 31) until February 7. It is open to artists of any genre based in the UK and Ireland, and is free to enter.This year’s prizes, alongside the chance to perform at Glastonbury 2022, include £5,000 for “talent development” awarded to one winner, while two runners-up will be given £2,500 each.