Why PPL champions the UK’s national music prizes
How PPL supports the UK's national music prizes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to celebrate talent, champion diverse voices and help build sustainable music careers.
PPL has long been committed to supporting and helping grow a thriving music community in the UK. One of the many ways we do this is by supporting our national music awards: the Welsh Music Prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award and the Northern Ireland Music Prize.
These awards celebrate the breadth and depth of musical talent across Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Our involvement in these events goes beyond sponsorship; it’s about championing diverse voices, creating platforms for artists and helping them build sustainable careers in music. Representatives from our organisation attend these flagship events to offer advice on our royalties collections service and share information about our funding partnerships.
We are especially proud to see how many artists nominated for these prizes have previously been supported by PPL’s charitable initiatives. PPL Giving, our community-focused programme, and the PPL Momentum Music Fund, managed by PRS Foundation, are two of the key ways we help artists progress in their careers. Combined, these initiatives – along with PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund – provide funding for everything from album projects and touring to music education and mental health support.
The Welsh Music Prize: Spotlighting Wales’ finest talent
The Welsh Music Prize, founded in 2011 by broadcaster Huw Stephens and music promoter John Rostron, shines a light on the best music made in Wales or by Welsh artists worldwide. This year’s event took place in October and celebrated 15 shortlisted albums, with live performances from artists including Aleighcia Scott, CHROMA, and Gruff Rhys.
The winner of the £10,000 prize was Newport-raised rapper L E M F R E C K with ‘Blood, Sweat & Fears’, a three-part album praised by the judges for its ambition and “deeply atmospheric” sound. L E M F R E C K’s journey has been supported by PPL through the Momentum Accelerator Fund, a targeted programme helping artists and industry professionals outside of London reach the next stage of their careers.
L E M F R E C K wins the Welsh Music Prize 2024.
Many of this year’s shortlisted albums, such as HMS Morris’s ‘Dollar Lizard Money Zombie’, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard’s ‘Skinwalker’ and Ynys’s ‘Dosbarth Nos’, have also benefited from other funding avenues PPL contributes to, helping to ensure artists have the financial and professional support they need to flourish.
The SAY Award: A celebration of Scottish music and art
Every Autumn, Scotland’s vibrant music scene comes together for the SAY Award. PPL has been a proud supporter of this prize since its launch in 2012.
This year’s winner was Edinburgh five-piece rEDOLENT with their debut album ‘dinny greet’. Alongside the £20,000 prize, nine runner-ups receive £1,000 each.
SAY 2024 winner rEDOLENT collecting their award (credit Cameron Brisbane)
The SAY Award is about more than just recognition; it also sparks discovery and debate. Its shortlist of 20 albums highlights artists from across Scotland, spanning genres from jazz and folk to metal and pop. Two of the acts on the 2024 shortlist, Dead Pony’s ‘IGNORE THIS’ and Lucia & The Best Boy’s ‘Burning Castles’, have previously received support from the PPL Momentum Music Fund.
Prizes this year were also awarded to the late Martyn Bennett – who died from Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2005 – for the Modern Scottish Classic Award for his final album ‘Grit’, while the Sound of Young Scotland was presented to Dillon Barrie.
The NI Music Prize: Honouring Northern Ireland’s rising stars
The Northern Ireland Music Prize, held every November, caps off the year’s national music prize celebrations. We were proud to sponsor the Album of the Year award, which this year went to Problem Patterns and their debut album ‘Blouse Club’. Member Ciara King said the band were “speechless” as their win was announced, adding: “It means so much to us to see a queer, feminist piece of work winning a prize of this scale.”
Beyond sponsorship, John Nolan, our Senior Communications Manager, was on this year’s judging panel, while Leo O’Brien, our Membership Development Manager, presented the award on the night. Both highlighted the quality of this year’s nominees, reflecting Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse music scene.
Problem Patterns win the NI Music Prize 2024, pictured with PPL’s Leo O’Brien (centre)
Organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast – a venue recognised as a Talent Development Partner, supported by us through PRS Foundation – the event recognises excellence across multiple categories. As well as Album of the Year there were prizes for Single of the Year (JC Stewart’s ‘Hey Babe, I’m A Mess, I’m Sorry’, Live Act (Huartan), Music Video (Jordan Adetunji’s ‘Kehlani’, Introducing Artist (Esmeralda Road), Legend Award (Eric Bell) and Outstanding Contribution (Gerry Anderson).
By championing music prizes nationwide, we are reinforcing our commitment to helping build and sustain a vibrant and inclusive music ecosystem. These awards don’t just celebrate music; they create vital opportunities for artists to grow and thrive.
