21.07.2025
The Early Career Promoter Fund is open again for applications after a successful first year of the programme. For the latest advice see their ‘How to Make a Strong Application’ webinar with Grants & Programmes Manager Ben Price on their YouTube channel here.
Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England, and offers grant funding and capacity building support, with the aim of bolstering the local, regional and national ecosystems.
Grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support a range of activities, including:
The fund aims to help emerging promoters to do what they do best – book and promote shows to develop scenes, support artists and DJs and to reach and engage audiences locally, regionally, and nationally, and build sustainable careers in the grassroots music sector. Those receiving support will be able to step up to book and promote talent at a scale beyond their current level, and build their capacity, skills and networks.
Managed by PRS Foundation and supported by Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Early Career Promoter Fund also helps to address under representation, ensuring support reaches a diverse range of promoters, and proactively encourages grantees to support a diverse range of artists and music genres nationwide.
Eligible applicants must be based in England and funding will be available to early career independent music promoters.
They define music promoters as those responsible for booking music acts to perform at a venue, festival, club night, showcase, concert, nightclub, on tour or at other music events (in any genre), who are also responsible for publicising and promoting the show.
There must be a clear funding need and applicants will be asked why they require support and how support will enable them to carry out activities and build their capacity. For the purposes of the activity you are applying for, you must submit a balanced budget i.e. no profit or loss.
The remaining eligibility criteria below are designed to attract applicants with clear need and most likely to benefit from Early Career Promoter Fund (ECPF) support. They recognise that there will be exceptions to their rules and if you are not sure, please contact applications@prsfoundation.com to outline your circumstances and discuss eligibility before applying.
Within online forms The PRS Foundation will ask applicants to outline their circumstances and track-record in more depth, and their external advisors will be well placed to understand the fluidity and nuance of early career promoter development needs. PRS Foundation commits to updating guidance as the Fund develops.
Promoters based outside England cannot apply to this fund. The Early Career Promoter Fund is funded by Arts Council England using Supporting Grassroots Music funding from DCMS which can only be allocated to England based promoters. Promoters based in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales might be able to apply to other PRS Foundation schemes for organisations or industry professionals, or to Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland or Arts Council of Wales for similar support. All other PRS Foundation programmes are available to those based anywhere in the UK.
What do they mean by ‘early career’?
Funding partners will prioritise ‘early career’ promoters whose practice is still developing. Since grant support can cover costs relating to music events and promotion, plus capacity building, they will prioritise those with a clear need to develop their skills and better establish themselves locally, regionally, and nationally.
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