How PPL is backing future creator talent and those working in the music industry

This has included annual contributions to the BRIT School, the UK’s leading performing and creative arts school and which provides a free education for 14 to 19 year olds in disciplines such as music, film, digital design, production and visual and performing arts. In 2023 a three-year partnership was announced in which PPL became a lead partner in the south London school’s Music Careers Programme.

This was followed by an announcement in early 2024 that we would provide funding to East London Arts & Music (ELAM) for the next three years to support diversity and equity in the creative and cultural industries.  

Among the other music good causes and projects that we have backed as part of its corporate responsibility remit are Blues Project, a platform supporting emerging R&B talent, the Ivors Academy Trust, which educates and nurtures songwriters and composers, Jazz re:freshed, which promotes underexposed musicians in the genre, national charity Music for Youth, music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins and Music Minds Matter. This was established by Help Musicians to provide a dedicated mental health support line and service for the UK music community. 

The Hospital Broadcasting Association, a national charity supporting hospital broadcasting in the UK, has long been a benefactor of PPL, as has the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), a healthcare charity providing medical advice to people working and studying in the performing arts. PPL CEO Peter Leathem serves as its Chair.

PPL partnered with BRIT School’s careers programme for music in 2023

We have also supported a number of events and award shows, including Focus Wales, Folk Expo, the Gramophone Awards, Jazz FM Awards, Music Industry Trusts (MITS) Award, MPG Awards, the Northern Irish Music Prize, Scottish Album of the Year, Sound of Belfast, the Student Radio Awards, the Welsh Music Prize and Wide Days. 

Since 2016 we have partnered with PRS For Music Foundation, the UK’s leading funder of new music and talent development across all genres. Initially, this tie-up started with a £200,000 investment each year to support the Foundation’s Momentum Music Fund and International Showcase Fund.

However, in 2020 the relationship was enhanced when PPL became the headline sponsor of what was rebranded the flagship PPL Momentum Music Fund. The scheme offers UK-based solo artists and bands grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 to help them to break through to the next level of their careers. This includes support for activities such as recording, touring and marketing.

Many hundreds of artists have been helped by the fund, a number of which have gone on to achieve commercial and critical acclaim, including receiving BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize nominations. These include Little Simz who won Best New Act at the BRITs and the Mercury Prize in 2022, multi BRITs winner Sam Fender and acts such as Hannah Peel, K-Trap, Kae Tempest, Knucks and Shygirl. 

The British Music Embassy at South by Southwest (credit: Tynesight)

For many years, PPL has been one of the industry partners supporting the British Music Embassy showcase of UK artists at the annual South by Southwest music conference and festival in Austin, Texas in the US. At the 2024 event alone the line-up included more than 60 artists over eight days, while in recent years those who have played the showcase include AJ Tracey, Arlo Parks, Celeste, Dave, IDLES, Nova Twins, Rag’n’Bone Man, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Yard Act and The 1975.  

Then in 2024, to mark its 90th anniversary year, we made oursingle biggest contribution to date to the music community with the launch of PPL Giving. This will donate £1 million annually to help to build a sustainable music industry, beginning with funding to 26 organisations covering a wide range of music genres and spread across the UK.