PledgeMusic and Help Musicians UK are proud to announce the opening of submissions for Round Two of the Emerging Artists Fund 2015. Managing Director of PledgeMusic, Paul Barton said, “After the unmitigated success of Round One of the Emerging Artists Fund initiative, we are anticipating more applicants and an even bigger response the second time around. It’s of prime importance to us as a company that PledgeMusic, with the help of our partners at Help Musicians UK, continue to build solid foundations to support emerging artists.”

Across the three rounds of the Emerging Artists Fund, according to FB88, running from May 2015 to May 2016, £50,000 will be available to select artists who aren’t currently receiving significant financial backing from third party sources such as a record label or a publishing company, but are at or nearing a career tipping-point with growing media interest, demonstrable live activity and an engaged fan base. In each round, a panel of high profile tastemakers and music industry experts will select eight artists from the pool of applicants.

EMERGING ARTISTS FUND 2015 ROUND 1

Round One of the Emerging Artists Fund ran in May 2015 and garnered publicity and support online from publications such as PRS For Music, The Unsigned Guide, and Music Week. In addition, more than 100 bands applied for the funding. The selection panel that narrowed down the applicants to the final nine included 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, award-winning producer and Music Producers Guild chairman Steve Levine, Kwame Kwaten (KKMC Management), Sean Adams (Drowned In Sound), Polydor A&R Tor Ree and singer/songwriter Shelly Pool.

In the following video, three members of our Emerging Artists Fund 2015 panel, Steve Levine, Kwame Kwaten and Tom Robinson sit down and discuss the process behind picking the Round One winners. You can learn more about the nine winning acts on the PledgeMusic blog and hear all the artist’s music on their Soundcloud page.

LIFE AFTER ROUND 1

Since the announcement of Round One winners of Emerging Artists Fund 2015, the artists involved have gone on to launch successful campaigns on PledgeMusic. Grime artist Elf Kid managed to smash his target just two hours, buoyed by the success of his call-to-arms Golden Boy, premiered on the PledgeMusic Soundcloud in June. NME Spotlight favourites TEDDY’s campaign continues onwards and upwards, with the stylish synth-poppers offering an ’80s house party amongst the exclusives in their colourful campaign. Active campaigns from the dark rock ‘n’ roll of The Ghost Riders In The Sky, piano-driven singer-songwriting from Northern Ireland’s Best Boy Grip, the alternative pop of Fifi Rong, psychotic guitar psychedelia from Telegram, Cornish folk stylings from The Changing Room and the angular indie rock of London’s Zola Blood demonstrate the scope of styles and sounds that the initiative has assisted.

Other EAF applicants who have launched campaigns include The Black Feathers, whose Soaked To The Bone campaign has proved them more than capable, smashing 160% of their target within a week, and Let’s Talk Daggers, whose I Love You Dad, But I’m Mental video enjoyed its premiere on the legendary UK metal print and webzine Metal Hammer. And as well as EAF 2015, PledgeMusic has been involved in other emerging artist initiatives, all of which you can view on PledgeMusic’s new, dedicated Emerging Artists page.

SUBMISSIONS FOR ROUND 2

The submission form for Round Two of the Emerging Artists Fund opened on August 1st, and has already had over 50 applications from emerging artists. The next panel to decide the nine chosen acts will convene in the Help Musicians UK offices in Kings Cross on September 17th, and promises to be comprised of another six music industry professionals with the experience and wisdom to provide informed judgements and vital feedback for the emerging acts.

To apply for the Emerging Artists Fund, please use PledgeMusic’s submissions page – and feel free to share this blog with any artist of contacts or artists who may be interested in, or benefit from, the scheme:

Help Musicians UK & PledgeMusic
Emerging Artists Fund 2015 Round 2 Entry Form

Barney spends his time campaign managing, music blogging & consulting at PledgeMusic by day and blowing up stages with rock / reggae / dance mash-up Sonic Boom Six by night. Barney takes his coffee strong, black and often and would one day like to visit Australia.

Follow @BarneyBoom on Twitter.