PRS Foundation's POWER UP announces 40 Black music creators & industry professionals for year one of its programme

  • Over 500+ applications received

  • The year one network covers the whole of the UK, a broad range of genres and sectors, and achieves strong intersectional representation

  • The holistic support programme starts today

  • Participants across Hip-Hop, Rap, Grime, R&B, Soul, Dance, Pop, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Country + more

  • Network of participants across English regions, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

 
 

POWER UP has today announced the music creators, industry professionals and executives who will make up Year 1 of the Participant Programme, a key feature of the long-term initiative launched to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

Supported by the FAC and managed by PRS Foundation, POWER UP launched in February this year, the Participant Programme elevates exciting Black talent and attracted 512 applications from 363 music creators and 149 industry professionals at crucial career stages.

The long-term network of participants gets off to a strong start, representing Black talent across the UK, with 38% of participants based outside London, including two in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. 52% of participants are women or gender minorities and over a quarter are LGBTQ+. And selected participants work across a broad range of genres - from Black Music genres including R&B and Rap genres to Electronic & Dance, Pop, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Country and everything in between – and in many different roles and sectors of music.

The holistically shaped programme, specifically designed to fit the needs of the participants, will assist in the development of their careers and practice to break through glass ceilings and accelerate change. This includes grant support of up to £15,000 alongside capacity building masterclasses, mentoring, coaching, mental health and wellbeing support and access to added value support from POWER UP Partners and the peer network which is integral to breaking down barriers.

Congratulations to the following 20 Music Creators, including FAC Ambassadors Nova Twins:

Abel Selaocoe (Classical), Amahla (R&B/Soul), Anaiis (Alternative), GRAMN. (R&B/Soul),  Daniel Kidane (Classical), Dapz On The Map (Grime), Donae'O (Afrobeats), Ego Ella May (R&B/Soul), GAIKA (Grime), Kasien (Hip-Hop/Rap), KG  (Dance), Kyan (Singer-Songwriter), Lady Sanity (Hip-Hop/Rap), MckNasty (Jazz/Hip-Hop), Nova Twins (Rock), Rebecca Garton (R&B/Soul), Simeon Hammond Dallas (Country), Sola (Alternative), TAAHLIAH (Electronic), Yizzy (Grime)

"Thank you PRS Foundation for our place on the POWER UP Participant Programme! We really appreciate you supporting us and independent artists like ourselves. The grant is going to be crucial for the next steps of recording our new album. Also, we cannot wait to meet everyone in the POWER UP network! We encourage bands looking for support to apply to these opportunities, as they’re mega helpful and have been a necessity in keeping our careers moving forwards." said Nova Twins

“I’m hugely excited to be a part of Power Up – a really important and ground-breaking initiative that is truly empowering. I can’t wait be a part of this movement.” GAIKA

“I’m extremely excited to start working alongside the amazing and inspiring individuals who make up the inaugural network and will be the first POWER UP Programme Participants. We have worked really hard on the design and content of the Participant Programme so, alongside our partners and various external delivery organisations, we can ensure it reflects and meets the holistic needs of the participants.” Yaw Owusu, Senior POWER UP Programme Manager

“Congratulations to all 40 Participants selected to be part of this first year of POWER UP.  We’re delighted to offer holistic support to elevate all Participants and we’re excited to see the network becoming a base of knowledge exchange, peer support and collaboration from today onwards.  I would like to thank our partners, YouTube Music, Beggars Group and the Black Music Coalition as well as Creative Scotland and all the music industry organisations that are supporting POWER UP in so many ways. With so many applicants highlighting the severity of anti-Black racism in music in 2021, the whole sector must come together to make meaningful change at all levels. With wide-reaching action, I truly believe our Participants will be at the forefront of a fairer, more equitable music industry.” Joe Frankland, CEO, PRS Foundation

“I'm so excited to be a recipient of POWER UP. With this support I'm able to fund my next two EP projects.” Amahla

“I'm incredibly honoured to be a part of the recipients of Power Up, this opportunity was massively needed and was the blessing I needed to achieve my ambitions.” anaiis

“I'm very excited and grateful to be part of the POWER UP network. It's an honour to be able to work with [the network and partners] on my next releases.” Ego Ella May

“I am so grateful and truly believe this funding will transcend my creativity into another artistic dimension. I have so many ideas I can't wait to bring to life!” Kasien

“I feel privileged to be a part of this program. I truly feel it will help me Power Up” Lady Sanity

We also want to congratulate the following 20 Music Industry Professionals:

  • Adem Holness, Music Curator, Horniman Museum / Relationship Manager, Arts Council England

  • Christine Osazuwa, Director of Data & Insights - Global Marketing, Warner Music Group / Founder, Measure of Music

  • Des Agyekumhene, Artist Manager & NFT Consultant

  • Despa Robinson, Founder, BE83 Ltd.

  • Eric Hunter, Music Publishing Coordinator, Sky

  • Errol Anderson, Founder, Touching Base

  • Eunice Obianagha, Founder/Director, Enspire Management, Co-Founder/Director Echo Music Foundation

  • Hannah Shogbola, Founder, DAJU / Agent, UTA Talent Agency

  • Heather Nelson, CEO, Black Music Festival & The Legacy Awards

  • Jennifer John, Creative director, Composer, Music Manager, Vocal Coach and Music Mentor, Key Note Speaker, Jennifer John Music

  • Kwame Daniels, Founder & CEO, Bounce Culture

  • Laura Lewis-Paul, Founder and Creative Director, Saffron Records CIC

  • Lekan Latinwo, Artist Manager, Intricate Management

  • Loretta Andrews, Artist Manager/Founder, Safe Music Management

  • Mohamed Ogleh, Artist Manager, 2-Tone Entertainment

  • Nick Eziefula, Media & Entertainment lawyer, Partner, Simkins LLP

  • Ree Sewell, Engineer Manager & Studio Coordinator, Metropolis Studios

  • Sami Omar, CEO, Producer & Artist Manager, Up2Standard

  • Sarah Shodipe, Freelance Music Journalist / Founder of Alt Access / PA Assistant, Dawbell

  • Selina Wedderburn, Head of Operations, Your Army / Co-Founder/Director, Tempo & Flow / Co-Founder/Director, Plan A Group


POWER UP Music Creator Participant and pioneering UK recording artist, and Donae’O said: "Power Up has given me the opportunity to be supported by other people in the industry who will better understand the issues I have faced as a Black man in the music business. This has inspired and empowered me to lend my support to the next wave of artists coming through. I also hope, with the help of the Power Up Mentoring scheme, I can make a meaningful impact of the careers of others"

POWER UP Partners, the Executive Steering Committee and over 35 Black music industry expert advisors were blown away by the quality of applications received, and the 40 Participants bring varied experiences and considerable expertise to the Participant Programme network and the wider POWER UP Movement and we applaud the huge efforts being made across the music sector since Black Out Tuesday in 2020, and celebrate the great steps announced recently. But with 500 plus Black applicants outlining their experiences in all sectors and genres of the UK music industry, it is clear more needs to be done to urgently move beyond solidarity and into tangible actions.

The process highlights the severity of anti-Black racism and the impact it is having on the inclusion and progression of talented industry professionals and music creators across the sector – including those employed by or working with major corporations or independent companies of all sizes, those working from freelance through to senior management and board-level positions, and music professionals in the recording sector, music publishing, the live sector, talent management, and those on stage, on screen, in studios and in the media – regardless of genre or location.

POWER UP will be sharing common barriers and key findings and the POWER UP Movement, in alliance with the Black Music Coalition and others will break down barriers, set targets and apply industry pressure to accelerate change, empower and advocate for Black talent, and influence policy to shape the future of the music industry.

Announced in February alongside a premiere of ‘Time To Power Up’, POWER UP has been set up and is managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group and the Black Music Coalition. The initiative brings together several music industry partners across all sectors to accelerate change, with supporters including Creative Scotland, plus the FAC, AIM, BPI, The Ivors Academy, the MMF, the MPA, MPG, The Musicians’ Union, PPL, PRS for Music and the PRS Members’ Fund who bring added-value support to POWER UP Participants.

More than 80 Black music executives and creators have come together to contribute and set the direction for POWER UP. An Executive Steering Group (ESC) was established in late 2020 featuring some of the most influential Black professionals in the UK music industry.  Alongside the ESC, seven focus groups covering Recording and Publishing, Live, Platforms, Gender, Sexuality, Enterprise and Regionality delved deeper into the barriers Black music creators and professionals have experienced across the sector and how they could be addressed.

Billie Morton Riley