L E M F R E C K, Chalk and Ruth Lyon among latest artists to receive PPL Momentum Music Fund support
11 artists have been announced in the latest round of acts to receive funding from the PPL Momentum Music Fund - a programme designed to support artists at a crucial tipping point in their careers.
PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with PPL, Creative Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, have revealed the latest artists that will receive support from the PPL Momentum Music Fund.
This new round of grantees includes several award winning acts: Welsh Music Prize 2024 winner L E M F R E C K, Forbes Best Music of 2024 winner Ashley Henry, Northern Ireland Music Prize 2023 Live Act of the Year winner Chalk, and Danny Award-winning Ruth Lyon, who was also recognised on the 2024 Disability Power 100 shortlist.
L E M F R E C K described the funding as an “absolutely insane opportunity that will allow me to invest in my artistry, expand my reach, and create impactful projects that push boundaries and elevate my career to new heights.”
Managed by PRS Foundation, the PPL Momentum Music Fund supports artists ready to take the next step in their careers with grants of £5,000 – £15,000. The latest round of artists, selected by a network of industry experts, are:
Ashley Henry – Touring current album ‘Who We Are’
Beauty Sleep – Marketing promotion and touring for sophomore album
Chalk – UK leg of their UK and European tour to promote album ‘CONDITIONS III’
Harbinger – UK leg of a 27-date UK and European tour
Jerome Thomas – Mixing, mastering, PR/ plugging campaign and digital advertising
L E M F R E C K – Promotion, marketing and touring for new EP ‘We’ve Been Here’
Laura Evans – Production and marketing for sophomore album
Lip Filler – Recording, production and release of third EP
Ruth Lyon – Marketing and touring for debut album
Tony Njoku – Album recording, marketing, and special live performances
Tora-I – Audience development, strengthening the relationship between audiences and artist through intimate in-person moments
Kate Reilly, Chief Membership Officer & People Officer at PPL, said that it was “fantastic to see former PPL Momentum Accelerator grantee L E M F R E C K secure funding for his new EP at a pivotal moment in his career,” adding: “Congratulations to all 11 acts, we look forward to seeing your music reach and engage new audiences.”
John Hendrickse, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to support these 11 incredibly talented artists in this latest round of PPL Momentum Music Fund and the exciting projects that will help push their careers forward. I’m also pleased to see that this round features music creators from across England, Wales & Northern Ireland, many with recent awards for their outstanding contribution to music so far. With the support of PPL Momentum Music funding, we’re looking forward to seeing all our grantees continue to receive more recognition for their talent as their careers move to the next level.”
PPL Momentum-funded act Beauty Sleep.
To date, the PPL Momentum Music Fund has awarded over £5.2 million to artists across the the UK. The 10 Years of Momentum Report (2013-2023) reveals the funding so far has helped generate £22 million for the UK music industry and supported over 500 artists, the creation of over 275 albums and more than 300 tours.
Since the report’s release in 2023, recent PPL Momentum Music artists continue to make waves and progress their careers. Ezra Collective were awarded the 2023 Mercury Prize, the second PPL Momentum Music fund grantee in a row to do so following Little Simz. Jordan Adetunji released one of the most viral tracks of the last 12-months ‘Kehlani’, and Dry Cleaning picked up a 2024 Grammy Award.
Of this latest round of grantees, Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales, said: “It’s fantastic to see two Welsh artists included in the latest funding round. 2024 was a huge year for L E M F R E C K as the winner of the Welsh Music Prize, while Laura Evans is gathering huge momentum as a female artist. This scheme remains critical to artists who need a vital springboard at key points in their careers, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from both artists in the coming year.”
PPL Momentum-funded artist Laura Evans.
Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to partner with PRS Foundation on PPL Momentum Music Fund, a vital initiative which enables our artists to take that all important next step in the development of their professional music careers. We are committed to providing valuable, meaningful opportunities for our artists to develop and reach their full potential. Congratulations to all the artists taking part in this current round and to Northern Ireland’s Chalk and Beauty Sleep, who will benefit greatly from this support towards touring and marketing their albums.”
The next deadline to submit an application for PPL Momentum Music Fund support is 3 February 2025 at 6pm. Find out more and apply via prsfoundation.com.
Main image: (left-to-right) Chalk, Lemfreck (credit: Harry McCulloch), Ruth-Lyon