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11 Sep 2018 2:17 PM
  • Press Release

MOBO TRUST AND HELP MUSICIANS UK PARTNER FOR YEAR 2  
MOBO HELP MUSICIANS FUND OPEN TO EMERGING GRASS ROOT TALENT 

 

Help Musicians UK and MOBO Trust have joined forces once again to launch the second round of the MOBO Help Musicians Fund with applications open from today.  

 

The charity has again teamed up with  MOBO TrustMOBO Organisation’s charitable arm, established to help young people reach their full potential in a wide range of disciplines within the creative sector, for the second year running to help support the creative and career ambitions of emerging talent through the MOBO Help Musicians Fund. Grants of up to £2,000 each are made available to support exceptionally talented solo artists, song writers and groups, fund their development to significantly impact on their creative and career aspirations.  

 

After the success of last year’s pilot, The MOBO Help Musicians Fund’s total fund has been increased to £40,000, creating even more funding opportunities for grass roots talent at the start of their careers, with groups of five or more now eligible to apply for grants up to £3,000.

 

Help Musicians UK Head of Creative Programme Lucy Bampton said: “We’re thrilled to announce we have doubled our investment in the MOBO Help Musicians Fund following such a successful pilot year. This additional investment and working with the fantastic MOBO Trust will enable us to support even more exciting and innovative artists from genres beyond the existing commercial heartland. We’re particularly excited to expand our criteria to enable larger groups, such as gospel choirs, to realise their career ambitions.” 
 
This year’s fund opened on Tuesday 11 September, with solo artists, producers, groups and songwriters from across the UK, who have been making music and performing, but do not have significant financial backing, eligible to apply. Whilst we encourage applications from genres beyond the commercial heartland such as  RnB, Soul, Afrobeats, Jazz, Gospel, Reggae and African as well as Hip Hop and Grime, talent from any genre are welcome to apply.  

 

Those eligible for the grants would be able to fund a broad spectrum of activities that are vital to an artist’s career and creative development - from vocal coaching, support for live performance and touring, video production, recording studio access, PR,  marketing  and promotion.  

 

MOBO founder and CEO Kanya King CBE: “MOBO has a long history of championing and supporting the next generation of talent in urban music. Yet with each new generation of artists come new challenges to develop one’s art and get to the next level, so financial backing early on is critical to the long-term growth of a fledgling artist. After last year’s successful pilot and witnessing the progress of last year’s recipients, it was only natural to continue this partnership with Help Musicians UK and we are therefore proud to be able to offer even more exceptional musicians, songwriters and producers invaluable funding and support in achieving their career ambitions. We look forward to seeing more of the wide range of grass roots talent the UK has to offer".


in 2017 MOBO Help Musicians Fund supported eleven up and coming acts, such as producer, composer and vocalist AGAMA who used her award to produce a 4 track EP and live video whereas contemporary soul and Neo Jazz artist Estée Blu developed her live performance and got vocal coaching after receiving funding.  

 

These two recipients together with SignKid and Cat Delphi have helped to launch this year’s fund by participating in a video that sees the artists share how the vital funding helped their careers, with guidance and tips for budding artists wanting to make their funding applications stand out from the rest. The video is available to view here:   


 

The closing date for applications is Monday 8 October at 9:00am.   

 

Who can apply 

 

To be eligible for the MOBO Help Musicians Fund you must be:

You can be a solo artist, producer, group or songwriter. MOBO would like to encourage applications from genres beyond the commercial heartland such as RnB and Soul, Hip Hop, Grime, Jazz, Gospel, Garage, Reggae and African music.

 

What can I use the funding for?

Please note equipment or PR should only make up 50% of your overall budget (e.g. should be no more than £1000 pounds of your total budget).

 

What can’t I use the funding for?

 

How it works

 

What to include in your application 

The online application form will ask questions about:

Within your application please include:

You will also need to submit examples of the best and most recent music that you are making.

 

Your reference 

To support your application you must also have a reference from a successful and well respected musician or music professional not connected with your application. This referee should know about you and your work. 

 

Help with your application

For tips on writing your application you can visit www.helpmusicians.org.uk/creative-programme/advice-for-funding-applications-

 

Previous recipients 

AGAMA  https://agamamusic.com
Ara Harmonic  https://soundcloud.com/araharmonic

AWATE  https://www.happinessisopenforbusiness.com

Cat Delphi https://www.catdelphi.com

Estée Blu https://www.esteeblu.com

Griz-0 http://www.grizofficial.com

Haula https://www.haulamusic.com

Lady Sanity https://www.ladysanity.com

Merki Waters https://www.facebook.com/MerkiWaters/

Michelle O'Faith https://soundcloud.com/michelleofaith

Signkid http://hyperurl.co/bxzoc5

 

Who we are

Help Musicians UK (HMUK) is the leading independent charity providing help, support and opportunities to empower musicians at all stages of their lives.  As well as playing a vital role supporting working musicians who are dealing with an illness, injury or accident, we also provide a range of opportunities to support learning and professional. Through our Creative Programme, we aim to help musicians during the course of their careers by investing in innovation across artistic practice, talent and professional development, removing barriers that exist for many to launch and sustain professional music careers across all genres.

 

MOBO Organisation and the MOBO Awards were established in 1996 by  Kanya  King CBE to motivate, elevate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of artists in under-served musical  genres, from soul, RnB  and reggae to hip hop, grime, gospel and  afrobeats.  Now in its 23rd year, MOBO  is a pioneer in its field and  not just an event,  but a movement .  Over the years, MOBO has become much more  than just an awards ceremony, it is now an iconic, year-round, agenda-setting  global  brand  that successfully champions diversity and inclusion  in music and broader cultural arenas.  It strives to support emerging and independent talent and  has  provided an early platform for some of the nation’s most-loved artists,  from Amy Winehouse and  Emeli  Sande, to Laura  Mvula,  Sam Smith, Adele and  Skepta. MOBO pursues its  purpose  to create  more opportunities and access  for  diverse talent across the creative industries in  film, TV,  fashion, art, sport  and media.  A drive to deliver social and cultural change is embedded in the organisation’s DNA. With an ongoing  successful talent development programme,  a number of  Executive Fellowships in the  creative  workplace and a host of annual training and educational opportunities for young people, MOBO influences the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year.  In 2016, the  charitable foundation  MOBO Trust  was established to  support young people to  realise their potential in a wide range of disciplines within the creative sector.  

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