PRS Foundation has announced today that Chiedu Oraka and Treeboy & Arc, two Yorkshire-based artists, are the latest to receive development grants from the PPL Momentum Accelerator, in partnership with Music:Leeds / Music Local’s Launchpad and supported by Arts Council England.
The two artists have been selected by a network of industry experts and will each receive grants of up to £5,000 to develop their careers and continue building momentum to get to the next vital tipping points in their careers.
PPL Momentum Accelerator artist Chiedu Oraka said: 'I'm really grateful that I have been awarded the PPL Momentum Accelerator fund! This fund will enable me to deliver a significant body of work which I plan to release next year. Big up the PRS Foundation for creating opportunities like this for upcoming artists. I know this pot of money will take my career to the next level.'
Treeboy & Arc said: 'We're incredibly grateful to receive the PPL Momentum Accelerator fund and will be using it to work on creating our debut album, something we've been working on for nearly 4 years now. The grant has given us the opportunity to record the album with Matt Peel at The Nave studios in Leeds, who is a producer we've wanted to work with for a fair while now!'
The two artists follow in the path of fellow PPL Momentum Accelerator supported Yorkshire artists such as Downtown Kayoto, English Teacher, Harkin, Noya Rao, Simeon Walker and TEAM PICTURE.
PPL Momentum Accelerator funding supports exciting artists with a growing fanbase and who are working to establish a music industry team. The full PPL Momentum Music Fund is for artists with a team already in place and at a tipping point, ready to take the next step in their careers.
This series of targeted Yorkshire editions of PPL Momentum Accelerator is in partnership with Launchpad, delivered by Music:Leeds / Music Local, which offers opportunities and support for emerging artists, musicians, producers, bands, composers and industry professionals in the Yorkshire region. Since 2019, Launchpad has directly supported over 100 artists and professionals with a combination of live opportunities, recording support, project funding and one-to-one industry advice & mentoring.
Senior Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation, Becci Scotcher, said: 'Huge congratulations to Chiedu Oraka and Treeboy & Arc on receiving our latest PPL Momentum Accelerator support. We’re delighted that together with our partners on the fund, PPL, Music Leeds/Music Local, Spotify, Arts Council England and PRS for Music, we’ve been able to bring this vital targeted support to Yorkshire and support 8 excellent music creators to build on their talent and impact the music scene in Yorkshire. We look forward to seeing the effect of this support on the artists’ development and career moving forward.'
Founder & Director of Music:Leeds, Samuel (Whiskas) Nicholls, said: 'It’s fantastic to be able to provide ongong support to breakthrough artists from Yorkshire, covering a range of genres, and across the whole region. We’re can’t wait to hear the new music that Chiedu and Treeboy & Arc are able to create with this funding!'
Director of Membership and Communications at PPL, Sarah Mitchell, said: 'In 2021 the PPL Momentum Accelerator fund has supported eight artists in Yorkshire, in addition to the 33 artists from across the UK funded by the full PPL Momentum Music Fund. We are proud to be able to offer financial support to so many artists at crucial points in their careers. It’s a testament to the depth of talent we have here in the UK and specifically the incredible music creators throughout Yorkshire. We look forward to continuing our support of homegrown artists through PRS Foundation’s great work.'
