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NextGen Fund

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NextGen Fund

The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen.

The Youth Music NextGen Fund is for early-stage musicians and wider music adjacent creatives to invest up to £2,500 in their own projects and make their ideas happen. The fund is especially aimed at those whose lack of finance holds them back from pursuing their goals.

It's open to 18–25-year-olds (and up to 30-year-olds who identify as d/Deaf or Disabled) who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

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.

NextGen Fund Round 8
Deadline: 19 January 2024
Notification:  April 2024

NextGen Fund Round 9
Deadline: 28 June 2024
Notification: September 2024

NextGen Fund Round 10
Deadline: 15 November 2024
Notification: February 2025

All deadlines are 5pm.

Applicant Guidance Notes - Easy Read (Word) Applicant Guidance Notes - Easy Read (PDF) Applicant Guidance Notes (Word) Applicant Guidance Notes (PDF) Sample Application Form

What's the fund for?

This fund is designed to help emerging artists and professionals develop the skills needed to participate in the fast-moving music industries. Modern creatives are having to be more versatile than ever, and we want to see young people challenging themselves to adapt to the modern climate. This could be developing skills like video editing, graphic design, coding alongside their artistic venture.

You can apply to develop a project that you can run and deliver mostly yourself. Here are some examples of ideas:

  • A creative music project: a Single, EP or contribution towards an album campaign. The music can be already made or in the process of being created.
  • 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.
  • An event or series of events showcasing other emerging artists: This is a new option for 2022. We want to support new promoters and help new artists gain experience performing on stage.

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.

NextGen Spotlights

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.

Resources

Photographer wearing red hat and Youth Music t-shirt

NextGen Resources

From musicians and producers, to managers and events promoters, find out where to get information and support to help you progress.

Contact us

Got a question about the NextGen Fund? Get in touch.

youth music nextgen fund supporters

Our supporters

The Youth Music NextGen Fund has been made possible thanks to generous support from Dr. Marten's Foundation and players of People's Postcode Lottery. We are also grateful for our vital support from the National Lottery via Arts Council England.