The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen.
We’ve launched the NextGen Fund to help emerging musicians and behind the scenes creatives take a step forward in participating and changing the music industries.
Built for creatives with a stack of ideas but a lack of finance, the fund is open to 18–25-year-olds (and under-30s who identify as Disabled). Successful applicants will use the money to launch a creative project, idea or business.
We want to support the future of the music industries. Singers, Rappers, Songwriters, Producers, DJs, A&Rs, Managers and Agents, right through to roles that have yet to be defined.
We would especially like to hear from people who have never applied for funding before.
Photo credit: Bethan McConnell
The deadline for Round 1 is 17:00 on Friday 9 July 2021.
What's the fund for?
This fund is about supporting people to take their first steps into the music industries.
You can apply to develop a project that you can run and deliver yourself. Here are some examples of ideas:
- A creative music project: a Single, EP or contribution towards an album campaign.
- A music-based business: starting a record label or music platform.
- A platform that supports underrepresented voices and perspectives: supporting leaders that build communities and help facilitate others in pursuing their creative goals
All projects need to be released within a year of being awarded the funds, and ideas that aren’t accessible to the general public cannot be funded. For example, it couldn’t fund a training course with no project outcome.
Who's the fund for?
People working towards a career in the music industries, but lack key contacts, resources and insights. They might be:
- Musicians, Producers, Engineers, DJs, MCs, Rappers, Songwriters
- Managers, Promoters, A&Rs, Agents
- Activists and campaigners who are transforming the music industries
In our funding decisions, we will prioritise:
- People who do not have the financial means to invest in themselves to get their ideas started
- People that are too early stage to be funded by larger grant programmes like Arts Council England and PRS Foundation
- Those who might be discriminated against, for reasons that could include Gender, Race, Disability, location or other characteristics
- People who are creative, entrepreneurial and are multi-disciplinary - even if they don’t recognise themselves as such
Workshops
We're hosting a series of workshops, where you can find out more information about the fund.
- Tuesday 8 June – Introduction to Youth Music NextGen with Elijah & Domenica
- Tuesday 15 June – How to get paid: an introduction to PRS for Music
- Tuesday 22 June – Hooversound Recordings: Starting a record label during a pandemic with Naina
- Tuesday 29 June – Becoming self sufficient as a creative with Andy Musgrave (Founder of Supernature and Manager of AJ Tracey)
NextGen Resources
From musicians and producers, to managers and events promoters, find out where to get information and support to help you progress.
'Make your own opportunities' - L C Y’S advice for emerging artists
We caught up with DJ, producer and record label owner L C Y who shares their advice for emerging creatives starting out in the music industries today.
Get to know Elijah, Project Lead Youth Music NextGen Fund
Elijah shares his thoughts on being a creative today and the difference the NextGen fund can make.
Contact us
Got a question about the NextGen Fund? Get in touch.
Our supporters
Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for making this fund possible and enabling us to expand our work into Scotland and Wales. Thanks to TikTok for supporting untapped creative talent through the NextGen Fund. We are also grateful for our vital support from the National Lottery via Arts Council England.