The Performing Right Society Foundation

Charity Number: 1080837

Annual Expenditure: £3.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.1 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: 8%
  • Decision Time: 6-10 weeks (depending on fund)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £25,000 (depending on programme)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based music creators and organisations

Contact Details

Website: www.prsfoundation.com

Email: info@prsfoundation.com

Phone: 020 3741 4233

Application Portal: prsfoundation.flexigrant.com

Overview

PRS Foundation (The Performing Right Society Foundation, registered charity 1080837) is the UK's leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. Founded in 2000, the Foundation has awarded more than £44 million to over 8,500 new music projects. In 2023, PRS Foundation pledged over £3.1 million to 435 new music projects. The Foundation receives core funding from PRS for Music, which enables it to leverage an additional £1.5-2 million annually from other sources. PRS Foundation's impact is demonstrated through its grantees' success: 6 out of the last 7 Mercury Prize winners and 9 out of 12 Mercury Prize 2022 nominees received PRS Foundation support. In 2024, the Foundation's Keychange initiative received the LIVE Workforce Award at the LiveAwards for its work on gender equity in the live music industry.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Open Fund for Music Creators: £5,000

Supports songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers and performers at various career stages. Applications submitted via written or video format through online portal. Fixed deadlines throughout the year (typically February, June, October).

Women Make Music: £5,000

Supports development of outstanding women, trans and non-binary music creators of all genres and backgrounds at different career stages. Fixed deadlines with online applications.

The Open Fund for Organisations: £10,000

Supports new music projects led by promoters, talent development organisations, venues, festivals, curators and large performance groups. Fixed deadlines with rolling application cycles.

PPL Momentum Music Fund: £5,000 - £15,000

Provides support for talented artists and bands at a crucial tipping point in their careers. Supports recording, writing, touring and marketing activities. Since 2013, has awarded over £5.2 million, generating £22 million for the UK music industry.

The Composers' Fund: £8,000 - £15,000

Supports up to 15 composers annually who are making significant cultural contributions in the UK with potential for greater impact domestically and internationally. Supports recordings, promotion, international co-commissions, residencies, and childcare costs.

International Showcase Fund: Variable amounts

Enables artists to perform at international showcases such as SXSW, Reeperbahn Festival, Eurosonic, Canadian Music Week, and others. From 2019-2024, generated £6.7 million for the UK economy. For every £1 invested, supported music creators generated an additional £5.40 in revenues.

Talent Development Network (TDN): Up to £25,000 per year for up to three years

Expanded to 78 organisations across the UK in 2025. Supports organisations working in music talent development.

Priority Areas

  • Creation, performance, and promotion of new music across all genres
  • Talent development for music creators at all career stages
  • Projects that demonstrate quality and artistic development potential
  • Support for underrepresented groups in music, including women, trans and non-binary creators
  • International showcasing opportunities for UK-based artists
  • Organisational support for music promoters, venues, festivals and talent development organisations

What They Don't Fund

  • Core organisational costs, salary costs, or living costs (except project-specific administration up to 10% of budget)
  • 100% of project costs - they expect other income sources as part of applications
  • Activity that occurs before the decision date
  • Direct support for managers, labels, publishers or other representatives
  • Marketing costs unless part of a wider campaign involving live and/or recorded music
  • Artists signed to major record labels (Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group)
  • Artists/composers signed to major publishers
  • Previous recipients of certain high-level funds (Momentum, Writer Producer Fund, Hitmaker, Composers' Fund) when applying to The Open Fund
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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Joe Frankland leads PRS Foundation into its third decade, stating he was “delighted” about increased support from partners like PPL.

Chair: Jane Dyball, former CEO of the Music Publishers Association Group and former co-chair of Attitude is Everything. Dyball stated: "I'm really excited to be taking on this role in this, the 25th anniversary year of the PRS Foundation."

Key Trustees:

  • Suzanne Hughes, Chief People and Transformation Officer at PRS for Music
  • John Minch, President of Concord Music Publishing International and CEO of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers
  • Susannah Simons, Director of Content for Marquee TV, trustee since 2018
  • Grace Goodwin, founder of Gender Equality Networks in Europe

The Foundation operates with a pool of 200+ independent external advisors who assess applications. All funding decisions are made by PRS Foundation and independent expert advisors, with approval from the Board of Trustees. No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through the PRS Foundation Flexigrant online portal (prsfoundation.flexigrant.com). Applicants can choose between written or video application formats for creator funds. Applications are assessed against specific criteria including track record, quality of music, project feasibility, and development potential.

Decision Timeline

  • The Open Fund for Music Creators & Women Make Music: 10 weeks from deadline
  • PPL Momentum Music Fund: 8 weeks from deadline
  • Early Career Promoter Fund: 6-8 weeks from deadline

Notifications are sent by email to all applicants. Successful applicants typically receive 50% or 80% of the total grant as a first payment, depending on the funding scheme.

Success Rates

The success rate across music creator funds is approximately 8% (one in 12 chance). In 2022, PRS Foundation supported 440 new music projects out of a much larger pool of applications. Demand for support is very high, making the application process highly competitive.

Reapplication Policy

The Open Fund for Music Creators: Applicants can only apply once per calendar year. Unsuccessful applicants may apply to Women Make Music in the same year if eligible.

Women Make Music: Applicants can only apply once per calendar year. If unsuccessful in February, applicants must wait until the next calendar year to reapply to Women Make Music, but may apply to The Open Fund in the same year.

Early Career Promoter Fund: PRS Foundation may accept re-applications or encourage reapplication in the future, which will be communicated with unsuccessful applications.

Programme-specific restrictions: Previous recipients of high-level funds (PPL Momentum, Writer Producer Fund, Hitmaker, or The Composers' Fund) cannot apply to The Open Fund. Composers' Fund recipients are ineligible for all other creator funds except International Showcase Fund and organisation funds.

Feedback is provided to unsuccessful applicants wherever possible, including common reasons for rejection and invitations to feedback workshops or calls.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from PRS Foundation

Track Record Requirements:

  • Music creators should have a track record of over 18 months
  • Industry professionals should have at least 3-5 years of experience
  • Applicants should be “starting to get noticed in the industry or by peers”

Budget Best Practices:

  • Ensure the budget balances exactly - expenditure must equal income
  • Base budgets on realistic costs and activities
  • Include other funding sources - PRS Foundation cannot support 100% of costs
  • Administration costs can be included up to 10% of total budget

Application Quality Tips:

  • Use the best and most relevant music examples (nothing over 18 months old)
  • Ensure all information you want advisors to see is on your application - don't rely on them looking things up
  • Don't rush your application - have another person review it before submitting
  • Confirmed or provisional activities are prioritized (e.g., a tour with six confirmed dates is stronger than one with no dates confirmed)

What They Look For:

  • Quality of the music and how projects will develop the music creators involved
  • Credible applicants with demonstrated momentum in their careers
  • Artists at a “crucial tipping point” showing current progression and growth
  • Potential to significantly develop careers over the next two years

Recent Funded Projects

Notable PRS Foundation grantees include: Little Simz (Mercury Prize winner), Wolf Alice, Dave, Sam Fender, Years & Years, AJ Tracey, Anna Meredith, English Teacher, Yola, Glass Animals, Ezra Collective, Sasha Keable, Ghetts, Shiva Feshareki, Sarathy Korwar, Floating Points, Nadine Shah, Lostboy, Imogen Heap, IDLES, Kae Tempest, Kojey Radical, Yard Act, Young Fathers, Afrodeutsche, Jasdeep Singh, and Ruth Lyon.

Common Success Factors

  • Strong track record demonstrating progression and artistic development
  • Clear project plan with confirmed or provisional dates/activities
  • Realistic, balanced budget showing other funding sources
  • High-quality music examples that are current (within 18 months)
  • Credible evidence of being at a “tipping point” in career development
  • Clear articulation of how funding will develop the artist's career

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly competitive process: With an 8% success rate, applications must be exceptionally strong. Focus on demonstrating quality, progression, and development potential.
  • Track record is essential: Music creators need 18+ months of activity; industry professionals need 3-5 years. Show you're gaining recognition in the industry or among peers.
  • Budget discipline matters: Budgets must balance perfectly and show realistic costs. Including other funding sources is essential - never request 100% funding.
  • One application per year per fund: Plan strategically. Unsuccessful Women Make Music applicants can still apply to The Open Fund in the same calendar year, but not vice versa for the same fund.
  • Recent, high-quality music examples are crucial: Submit only your best work, and ensure nothing is over 18 months old. Don't assume assessors will research beyond your application.
  • Timing and confirmed activities strengthen applications: Projects with confirmed dates, venues, or collaborations are prioritized over conceptual projects.
  • Feedback and learning opportunities: Take advantage of feedback workshops and calls if unsuccessful. The Foundation provides guidance to help improve future applications.

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