PRS Foundation have revealed that five of the artists nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize have received their support.
These artists are:
• Anna Meredith (nominated for FIBS) – received support through Women Make Music (2014), Musician in Residence, China (2014), PPL Momentum Music Fund (2015), New Music Biennial (2017), International Showcase Fund (2017)
• Georgia (nominated for Seeking Thrills) – received BBC Music Introducing x PRS Foundation showcase support (for CMJ 2015 & SXSW 2019) and PPL Momentum Music Fund support (2016)
• Lanterns on the Lake (nominated for Spook the Herd) – received International Showcase Fund (for SXSW 2011) and Open Fund support (2015 and 2018)
• Moses Boyd (nominated for Dark Matter) – received the Steve Reid Innovation Award (2014), PPL Momentum Music Fund (2016), International Showcase Fund (for SXSW 2017), and BBC Music Introducing x PRS Foundation showcase (for New York Winter Jazzfest 2020) support
• Sports Team (nominated for Deep Down Happy) – received PPL Momentum Music Fund (2018), International Showcase Fund (2019) support
Each of these music creators had successfully accessed PRS Foundation’s targeted support to their specific career development, such as creating, recording, residencies, UK touring or showcasing internationally. Additionally, as part of the wider UK music industry’s talent development pipeline, four artists have utilised support and worked with organisations that have received PRS Foundation funding too.
Additionally, the inaugural Inspiration Award Winner for PRS Foundation’s Keychange initiative Dua Lipa has also been nominated for this year’s prize. It was a good year for gender balance with more nominations for women than ever before.
Joe Frankland, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation said: ‘Congratulations to the five Mercury Prize nominated artists announced today that have received support from PRS Foundation in recent years. It is a fantastic example of how timely investment in exciting, diverse and innovative talent works in tandem with UK organisations we support and co-investment from the music industry to produce world-beating new music. Having so many grantees nominated over the last three years – including winners Wolf Alice and Dave – is no fluke. We must continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of UK music creators so that with long-term funding partnerships and industry collaboration we can play a crucial role in breaking down huge barriers in order to support the creation of more great music in the years to come.’
In the last two years, 12 of the Mercury Prize nominees including the winners Wolf Alice and Dave have received direct PRS Foundation support. With the addition of this year’s nominees, PRS Foundation supported artists have made up almost half of the nominations over the last three years.
