Help Musicians - Record and Release Support

This programme is provided by Help Musicians UK (HMUK). HMUK is an independent charity providing help, support and opportunities to empower musicians at all stages of their lives.

HMUK believes that musicians benefit from support which enables them to focus on three key areas of their career at the same time: their creative portfolio, their business development, and their health and wellbeing. This funding programme is intended to support them in each of these areas through the provision of grants and one-to-one advice sessions.

Financial support of up to £3,000 is available towards recording and releasing music.

Programme participants also benefit from:

• One-to-one business advice sessions tailored to their needs and delivered via experienced music industry professionals, as coordinated by ThinkMusic.
• A one-to-one health consultation with British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) professionals, covering all aspects of a musician's health, including physical and mental health needs and specialist referrals where required.

Supported activities must be delivered within 12 months of accepting a grant.

Support may be accessed at any time while funding remains available.

Guidance notes and the online application form can be found on the Help Musicians website.

Applications will be accepted from professional UK musicians of all genres and disciplines aged 18+, with a focus on independent music creators who are controlling one or more aspects of their career (eg self-managing, self-releasing, self-producing).

Applicants may be a solo artist, composer, group member, songwriter, producer or a multidisciplinary artist.

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Organisations.
• Individuals who have received financial support for recording and releasing music from Help Musicians in the last twelve months.
• Applications relating to loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Applications relating to touring/live activity, irrespective of how far into the future these might be planned.
• Applicants who are already receiving significant financial backing.
• Activities that are not primarily music or career development focused.
• Formal courses of study, training or research.
• Attendance at any showcases already supported by the International Showcase Fund or (SXSW CMJ, A3C, WOMEX, Reeperbahn, Folk Alliance International, MIDEM Canadian Music Week).
• Ongoing overheads, for example rent, utilities and insurance.
• Buying or insuring vehicles.
• Costs associated with entering competitions.
• Activities that have already occurred.
• Costs relating to the purchase of musical instruments (including laptops) and/or the upgrade/maintenance of existing instruments.