THE HITMAKER FUND APPLICATION NOW OPEN (UK)

The Hitmaker Fund offers an opportunity for behind-scenes songwriters and producers working in popular music genres to further develop their careers and writing/production with grants of between £5,000 – £10,000. Deadline: 1st May 2023 @ 6:00pm

Launched in 2017 as a response to the long-term career needs of those working behind the scenes, The Hitmaker Fund (formerly The Writer Producer Fund) was initiated by PRS Foundation with BASCA Trust. The rebranded Hitmaker Fund is now delivered by PRS Foundation.

Spotify is the exclusive digital partner for Hitmaker. This partnership will mean more talented producers and songwriters will be supported and that there will be a closer working relationship between supported grantees and the Spotify team for promotional and marketing opportunities.

Aaron Buckingham, Songwriter and Publishing Relations at Spotify said, “Songwriters are vital to the music industry, but often do not get the visibility they deserve. With this funding, we hope to help bring songwriters out from behind the curtain and into the limelight. We are proud to be the exclusive partner with the PRS Foundation to help empower songwriters to do what they do best: create and promote the music fans love.”

“Songwriters are vital to the music industry, but often do not get the visibility they deserve. With this funding, we hope to help bring songwriters out from behind the curtain and into the limelight. We are proud to be the exclusive partner with the PRS Foundation to help empower songwriters to do what they do best: create and promote the music fans love.”- Aaron Buckingham, Songwriter and Publishing Relations at Spotify

PRS will be running an online workshop live Q&A with Grants Coordinator Beka Bee on 20th April 2023 with more details, you can book your participation HERE

WHO CAN APPLY TO THE HITMAKER FUND ?

UK based songwriters and producers applying for The Hitmaker Fund must have a previous professional track record as a writer or a producer. If you are a producer and performer, you cannot apply in a performing capacity. You will have to state your case as a producer and songwriter only. Performing Producers and DJ’s should apply for Artist based projects through the PPL Momentum Fund / Open Fund (see more below).

The songwriter / producer must be a registered PRS For Music member with a CAE number.

Applicants for this current round must be:

1. Songwriters (behind the scenes creators of new music who don’t also perform or produce), or
2. Producers (those working on production who contribute to the songwriting process and are acknowledged as writers)

Applications can be made by songwriters / producers directly or by their representatives. Those who can apply on their behalf include;

• Managers
• Music Publisher
• Lawyer
• Trusted advisor

N.B. If you are on a major publisher, then you are ineligible to apply for this fund. If you are coming out of a deal, you will have to have come to the end of your deal and include this as evidence in your application form. Once you have come to the end of your deal, then you will be considered as eligible to apply.

We invite all users of the platform who meet the conditions, to participate in this great opportunity that gives us the hitmaker fund.

READ THE GUIDANCE AND APPLY NOW

Why is it important for the PRS Foundation to start a songwriter fund?

Songwriters and producers are at the centre of the music industry, creating the content the whole industry is centred around. Supporting the creation and performance of new music is at the heart of what the Foundation does. With The Hitmaker Fund we’ll be supporting the creation of new music by investing in talented writers and producers to help them build their careers at crucial stages.

Launched in 2017 as a response to the long-term career needs of those working behind the scenes, The Hitmaker Fund (formerly The Writer Producer Fund) was initiated by PRS Foundation with BASCA Trust. The rebranded Hitmaker Fund is now delivered by PRS Foundation.

From 2021, Spotify will be the exclusive digital partner for Hitmaker. This new partnership will mean, more talented producers and songwriters will be supported across three deadlines in 2021 and that there will be a closer working relationship between 2021 supported grantees and the Spotify team for promotional and marketing opportunities.

The Hitmaker Fund fits alongside existent next step funds, PPL Momentum Fund and the International Showcase Fund, filling the gap of career development for writers and producers.