We know it can be financially difficult to fund your music projects and support yourself as an emerging artist. Oh Yeah is here to help and here is our guide to the reputable funding sources you can apply for as a musician based in Northern Ireland. In this blog, we'll explore some practical tips for you to make money and turn your passion into a sustainable career.

Arts Council NI

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland offers funding to nurture creativity. Discover SIAP, with grants up to £15K, perfect if you are an up-and-coming artist eager to advance your practice. It provides resources, time for new work, training, mentoring and even travel opportunities. Applications open annually in July.

PRS Foundation

PRS Foundation offers various funding opportunities for Music Creators which are classified as songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers or performers who write their own music.

The Open Fund For Music Creators

The Open Fund for Music Creators supports exceptional songwriters and composers from diverse backgrounds at various career stages. Grants up to £5K for projects aligning with PRS Foundation’s priorities: creating, performing and promoting outstanding new music and inspiring audiences.

PPL Momentum Music Fund

The PPL Momentum Music Fund has been supporting UK artists annually for the last 10 years, including Little Simz, Sam Fender and Robocobra Quartet. Successful applicants will receive a grant of £5,000-£15,000 to help with recording, touring and marketing and more. To be eligible for the PPL Momentum Music Fund, you must be at a pivotal stage in your career, demonstrating ongoing advancement and artistic growth, and displaying the capacity to make substantial progress in your career within the next two years.

Women Make Music

Women Make Music aims to nurture and uplift remarkable women, trans, and non-binary songwriters and composers from diverse backgrounds across various career stages. Grants of up to £5,000 are available.

Power Up

The POWER UP Participant Programme is an initiative which aims to elevate and amplify the voices of black music creators. Applications are open on an annual basis to black artists, songwriters, composers and producers across diverse genres. Through this programme, you can receive grant support up to £15,000, mentoring, access to esteemed partners in the industry, marketing support and inclusion within the long-term POWER UP network.

Other funds available from PRS Foundation include the Steve Reid Innovation Award and Lynsey De Paul Prize.

The Youth Music NextGen Fund

The Youth Music NextGen Fund is a funding opportunity for young creatives with grants of up to £2,500. This fund is specifically designed for early-stage musicians and other creative individuals involved in the music industry. If you're between the ages of 18 and 25 (or up to 30 if you identify as d/Deaf or Disabled), you are eligible for this fund.

If you identify as disabled and require further support to make an application to Youth Music, you can apply to their Access Fund.

Help Musicians NI

Help Musicians is an organisation that offers incentives to help you achieve your creative potential. In 2023, NI artists such as Dark Tropics, Leo Miyagee and Wynona Bleach have availed of their funding opportunities. Help Musicians also offer regular Get Set Sessions where you can receive tailored advice on their funding options and expert tips on how to make a strong and successful application.

Record and Release

Receive up to £3,000 in financial support towards creative output, one-to-one business advice sessions and a personal health consultation with British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).

Skills and Professional Development

This fund provides up to £1,500 to help you enhance your skills or artistic practice to cover anything from a conference to learn more about the industry, to a course to enhance your skills; from one-on-one coaching to some time with a mentor.

Touring and Live

You can apply for financial support of up to £5,000 towards the cost of performing live and touring.

MOBO Help Musicians Fund

If you’re a musician making hip-hop, grime, R&B, soul, music of African origin, reggae, jazz or gospel then you can apply for up to £3,000 towards recording music, and everything that goes around getting it out there into the world.

Featured Artists Coalition (FAC)

Step Up Fund

Amazon-backed FAC Step Up Fund aims to empower artists needing a career push. Recent recipients include NI band Chalk. You can claim up to £8,000 financial aid plus comprehensive benefits for your music project over a 12 month period to cover recording, releasing, content creation, marketing and touring.

We hope you have found these funding resources useful. If you need advice on how to navigate funding applications you can register with our ASK service and sign up for a 30 minute mentoring session.