Funding for Music
Funding is available for music creators — including songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers, and performers who write their own music. Opportunities also exist for organisations and industry professionals working within the music sector.
Explore the funding options below. If you're looking to identify the right grants, maximise your chances of success, and have your application professionally completed, get in touch with us at The IT Factor — we offer expert support every step of the way on a success fee basis
Grant Ref: MUSNA001
Funding for Creators of Music
This grant offers financial support to UK-based music creators, aiming to foster the creation, performance, and promotion of new music across all genres and career stages.
Who it’s for:
UK-based individuals such as songwriters, composers, artists, bands, producers, or performers who write their own music.
Representatives of music creators, including managers, labels, or publishers.
Applicants must have a track record of at least 18 months.
Applicants must be aged 18 or over.
Grant amount: Up to £5,000
Match funding: Some required
What it funds:
Creation of new music
Live performances, tours, and concerts
Recording and releasing music
Creative residencies and commissions
Fees for music creators and collaborators
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance)
Equipment costs (up to 20% of the total project budget)
International activities (up to 30% of the grant request), provided they are part of a UK-based project
Deadline:
Next round opens: 1 September 2025
Deadline to apply: 29 September 2025
📞 Get in touch today to know which funding opportunity is right for you
Grant Ref: MUSNA002
Funding for Music Creators (Artists and Bands) in their Next Career Stage
This grant offers financial support to UK-based artists and bands aiming to elevate their careers to the next level
Who it’s for: Applicants must
Be based in the UK
Write and perform their own music
Have received national media or press coverage
Have performed (or been invited to perform) multiple shows across the UK
Demonstrate a strong national and regional fan base
Have at least one team member, such as a manager, booking agent, or PR representative
Not be signed to a major record label deal
Grant amount: Between £5,000 and £15,000.
Match funding: Not required
What it funds:
Recording and releasing music.
Live performances, tours, and concerts.
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance).
Creation of new music.
Fees for music creators and collaborators.
Equipment costs (up to 20% of the total project budget).
Deadline: Open now for applications Deadline 12 May 2025
Next round: Opens 14 July 2025. Deadline 11 August 2025
Next round: Opens 29 September 2025. Deadline 27 October 2025
📞 Get in touch today to apply in this round and unlock your funding.
Grant Ref: MUSNA003
Funding for Artists/Bands and Music Industry Professionals in Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, or Wales.
This grant offers financial support to emerging music creators and industry professionals based in specific UK regions, aiming to help them overcome early career barriers and progress towards national recognition.
Who it’s for:
For Artists/Bands:
Applicants must:
Be based in one of the following regions: Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, or Wales.
Write and/or perform their own music.
Have been featured in regional or national press, media, or blogs.
Have performed or been invited to perform multiple shows across their region.
Demonstrate a strong regional fan base.
Be making initial steps towards national interest or gaining some national attention.
Show early signs of interest and/or informal collaboration with other music professionals or organisations (e.g., management, record label, booking agent, press).
For Industry Professionals:
Applicants must:
Be based in Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, or Wales.
Be establishing themselves within their region, showing a strong commitment to local talent.
Have a good or growing track record and be ready to further develop skills and increase their impact on the local music scene.
Have been working in or around music for more than 18 months but less than 10 years.
Demonstrate potential to forge a full-time career in the music industry.
Grant amount: Up to £5,000
Match funding: Not required
What it funds:
Recording and releasing music.
Live performances or touring.
High-quality and innovative broadcast or pre-recorded online content.
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance).
Creation of new music or time to create.
Fees for creative collaborators.
Education or training.
Commissioning new works.
Equipment costs (up to 20% of the total project budget)
Deadline: Opens 14 July 2025. Deadline 11 August 2025
📞 Get in touch today to know which funding opportunity is right for you.
Grant Ref: MUSNA004
Women in Music - Get Up to £5,000
This grant supports the development of exceptional women, trans, and non-binary songwriters and composers across all genres and career stages. It aims to fund high-quality new music projects with tangible outcomes, encouraging a diverse range of music creators to apply.
Who it’s for:
Be women, trans, or non-binary music creators.
Be based in the UK.
Be songwriters, composers, artists, bands, or performers who are writing their own music.
Have a track record of more than 18 months.
Grant amount: Up to £5,000
Match funding: Not required
What it funds:
Creation of new music.
Live performances or touring.
Recording and releasing music.
High-quality and innovative broadcast or pre-recorded online content.
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance).
Fees for creative collaborators.
Education or training.
Commissioning new works.
Equipment costs
Administration costs related to the project
Deadline: Opens 1 September 2025. Deadline 29 September 2025
📞 Get in touch today to know which funding opportunity is right for you.
Grant Ref: MUSNA005
Are you a Composer at a Pivotal Stage in Your Career? Get Up to £15,000 to Advance Your Career – We’ll Handle It All
This grant offers substantial support to UK-based composers working primarily in classical and related genres. It aims to assist those at pivotal stages in their careers, enabling them to undertake projects that can significantly enhance their professional development and impact
Who it’s for:
Be composers with a strong track record in classical or related genres (e.g., contemporary classical, opera, sound art, Indian classical).
Be based in the UK.
Be at a tipping point in their career, demonstrating current progression and growth with the potential for significant development over the next two years.
Be making a significant cultural contribution in the UK and have the potential for greater impact both domestically and internationally.
Primarily write for live performance.
Grant amount: Between £8,000 and £15,000
Match funding: Not required
What it funds:
Recording projects.
Promotion and performance of existing works.
International co-commissions and development.
Collaborations with performers.
Residencies.
Sabbaticals or childcare costs.
Project or promotional support.
Deadline: Opens 8 September 2025, Deadline 6 October 2025
📞 Get in touch today to know more about funding options, and to plan a strong application
LIVERPOOL
Grant Ref: MUSLI001
Liverpool City Region Artists/Bands and Industry Professionals
This grant provides targeted financial support to emerging artists, bands, and future industry professionals. It aims to help recipients overcome regional barriers and reach pivotal career milestones.
Who it’s for:
For Artists/Bands:
Applicants must:
Be based in the Liverpool City Region. Comprising Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.
Write and/or perform their own music.
Have been featured in regional or national press, media, or blogs.
Have performed or been invited to perform multiple shows across their region.
Demonstrate a strong regional fan base.
Be making initial steps towards national interest or gaining some national attention.
Show early signs of interest and/or informal collaboration with other music professionals or organizations (e.g., management, record label, booking agent, press).
For Industry Professionals:
Applicants must:
Be based in Liverpool City Region. Comprising Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.
Be establishing themselves within their region, showing a strong commitment to local talent.
Have a good or growing track record and be ready to further develop skills and increase their impact on the local music scene.
Have been working in or around music for more than 18 months but less than 10 years.
Demonstrate potential to forge a full-time career in the music industry.
Grant amount: Up to £5,000
Match funding: Not required)
What it funds:
Recording and releasing music.
Live performances or touring.
High-quality and innovative broadcast or pre-recorded online content.
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance).
Creation of new music or time to create.
Fees for creative collaborators.
Education or training.
Commissioning new works.
Equipment costs
Deadline: TBC
📞 Get in touch today to know which funding opportunity is right for you.
TEES VALLEY
Grant Ref: MUSTE001
Tees Valley Region Artists/Bands and Industry Professionals
This grant provides targeted financial support to emerging artists, bands, and future industry professionals based in the Tees Valley region. It aims to help recipients overcome regional barriers and reach pivotal career milestones.
Who it’s for:
For Artists/Bands:
Applicants must:
Be based in the Tees Valley region, specifically within the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, or Redcar & Cleveland.
Write and/or perform their own music.
Have been featured in regional or national press, media, or blogs.
Have performed or been invited to perform multiple shows across their region.
Demonstrate a strong regional fan base.
Be making initial steps towards national interest or gaining some national attention.
Show early signs of interest and/or informal collaboration with other music professionals or organizations (e.g., management, record label, booking agent, press).
For Industry Professionals:
Applicants must:
Be based in the Tees Valley region.
Be establishing themselves within their region, showing a strong commitment to local talent.
Have a good or growing track record and be ready to further develop skills and increase their impact on the local music scene.
Have been working in or around music for more than 18 months but less than 10 years.
Demonstrate potential to forge a full-time career in the music industry.
Grant amount: Up to £5,000
Match funding: Not required
What it funds:
Recording and releasing music.
Live performances or touring.
High-quality and innovative broadcast or pre-recorded online content.
Promotion and marketing (when combined with creation or performance).
Creation of new music or time to create.
Fees for creative collaborators.
Education or training.
Commissioning new works.
Equipment costs
Deadline: Open now for applications Deadline 12 May 2025
Next round: Opens 29 September 2025. Deadline 27 October 2025
📞 Get in touch today to apply in this round and unlock your funding.