NextGen Fund
National Foundation for Youth Music
The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen. 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.
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 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.
This grant can go towards a project that already exists or work as part of an overall budget. The grant could act as half of overall costs, with other sources of finance involved. You don’t have to have any existing funding already to apply. We recommend allocating money to each section, as we will not fund applications that dedicate all the money to one section.
• Project Expenses - Any costs associated with producing the work. For example:
- Recording and Production costs - Studio, Mixing and Mastering.
- Session Musician Fees at the Musicians Union rate.
- Manufacturing. • Equipment - £500 maximum - Hardware and software necessary to completing the project to a high standard, that will be also an asset to you with future projects. • Training - £200 maximum - Affordable training that will help you develop your skills needed to deliver the project and or level up your skill set for future employment potential. For example, a conference ticket or online course. • Marketing – £500 maximum - We want to see creative marketing spends, not just money allocated to online marketing, or social media ads. Provide as much detail as possible here, as this is where we want to hear about your creativity towards building an audience. • Travel - £200 maximum - We encourage remote work and online collaboration where possible. We also cannot fund any travel outside of the UK. • Other - List any other spending for your activity that is not included elsewhere that is related to your project. You can include an amount for unexpected costs – this is known as "contingency”. • Time to Create – We have allocated every applicant at least £500 for you to spend as you see fit during the duration of your project. You can apply for more under this section. This can be for living expenses, childcare, or any personal items needed to help you deliver your work. See it as a wage for creating and delivering.
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 people who want to launch a project, idea, or business for 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 Disabled) who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
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.