Cost Of Living: A list of help and resources

On Tuesday, 14 February, Mixmag launched a new series exploring how the current UK cost of living crisis is impacting those who work, live and love dance music and club culture.

Following a difficult two years for electronic music in the UK during the pandemic, the electronic music scene in the UK is being faced with an even bigger challenge. The combined effects of inflation, soaring energy bills, Brexit and stuttered recovery from COVID-19 are now proving to be a near-impossible hurdle for our industry. More needs to be done to save our nightlife venues, to support our artists, to make music accessible to everyone and to keep our culture alive.

We'll be adding a list of our features in publish order below, as well as a list of resources available to people In dance music and beyond who are being impacted by the cost of living crisis, we will continue to update it in the coming weeks.

How The Cost Of Living Crisis Is Impacting Nightclubs And Promoters
Kicking off our Cost of Living series, Megan Townsend looks at the catastrophic knock-on effect that higher energy prices are having on nightlife spaces and promoters in the UK

Read the feature

How The Cost Of Living Crisis is Impacting Festivals
For the second part of our Cost of Living crisis, Isaac Muk looks at how soaring costs and changing consumer habits could spell a tough summer ahead for festival organisers

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How The Cost Of Living Crisis is Impacting Radio Stations
Next up in our Cost Of Living Series, Gemma Ross finds out the detrimental impact of increased studio rent and changing audience habits, and why some radio stations have struggled to keep the lights on

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How The Cost Of Living Crisis Is Impacting DJs And Producers
In the fourth instalment of our Cost Of Living series, Patrick Hinton investigates the scale of problems facing dance music in 2023 and considers solutions, speaking to the industry's most visible workers: artists

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UK-wide

• Audio UK: Audio UK is a trade association helping grow and promote the UK audio production sector by providing opportunities, training, and funding.
• British Council UK music funding: The British Council regularly gives funding to musicians and music organisations, they are currently offering a Cultural Protection Fund small grant that you can apply for here.
• Community Radio Fund: The Community Radio Fund supports major costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations. The next round will take place in 2024.
• Help musicians grant: Help Musicians offer grants to artists who are in need of emergency help, considering those with £500 a month shortfall to be in severe financial hardship.
• Help musicians resources: For those who don't qualify they also have a number of resources and programmes to help musicians who are struggling — such as advice, career help and workshops.
• Musicians Union Benevolent fund: The Musicians Union offer small grants to artists suffering with severe financial hardship.
• Music Venue Trust Emergency Response: The Music Venue Trust offer assistance and advice to venues being threatened with closure from issues such as noise complaints and licensing issues.
• Music Venue Trust Pipeline Investment Fund: The Music Venue Trust offer small-scale grants of up to £5000 to grass roots music venues to help cover capital costs (such as equipment) or staff training.
• PRS International Showcase Fund: Offers support for UK artists, bands, songwriters and producers to reach a worldwide audience through performing at various international festivals and conferences. It is run in partnership with British Underground, UK Trade and Investment, Arts Council England and the Musicians’ Union.
• PRS Foundation grants for music creators and organisations: PRS offer funding for both individuals/artists and businesses.
• PRS PPL fund (Wales, Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region): Helps artists begin their careers with grants between £5-£15k.
• Royal Society of Musicians support: The RSM offer advice and financial support to help artists suffering from financial hardship, as well as ill health.
• #SAVETHENIGHT Fund: A campaign helping young creatives in the UK bring their sustainability, diversity and safety projects to life with a €100,000 fund pot.
• The Licensed Trade Charity grants: Turn2Us is a licensed trade charity that supports workers, or former workers, in licensed premises. They offer grants to help with financial hardship, including rent/deposits and household bills.
• The Radio Academy: The Radio Academy is a UK-based charity promoting excellence in UK radio running networking events, talks, and regional training days to aid those in the industry.
• Youth Music Network NextGen Fund: Offers 18-25-year-old creatives (or 18-30 if they identify as disabled or d/Deaf) grants of up to £2,500 to bring their ideas to life.
• Youth Music Network Trailblazer Fund: Grants of between £2,000 and £30,000 for established music organisation that support young people who face barriers to make, learn and earn in music.
• Youth Music Network Catalyser Fund: Grants of between £30,001 and £300,000 for established music organisation that support young people who face barriers to make, learn and earn in music.
• Youth Music Network Incubator Fund: Grants of £5,000 to £30,000 for businesses, collectives and non-profit groups working in the music industry to create opportunities for people aged 18-25 (particularly from marginalised communities) to begin a career in music.

England:

• Arts Council England Developing your Creative Practice: £2,000-£10,000 grant to creatives to take time focus on their creative work.
• Arts Council England Music Support: Music industry help group to support those who work in music affected by mental health issues and/or addiction.
• Free DJ workshops: for 18 to 25-year-olds living in Haringey, London.
• The Fair helpline: London festival company has launched a career advice line for new music industry professionals.
• Rye Wax electronic music youth mentorship programme: Peckham venue and record store Rye Wax is running a new electronic music youth mentorship programme for aspiring artists aged between 18 and 25 years old.

Wales:

• Arts Council Wales Investment Review: Applications are now open for Arts Council Wales' multi-year grant

Scotland:

• Creative Scotland funding: Creative Scotland are funded by the National Lottery and the Scottish government, and offer a range of schemes for music makers, organisations and ideas.
• Cultural Enterprise Office funding: The Cultural Enterprise Office issues support and funding to creative businesses in Scotland, whether they are at the idea stage, established or want to change directions.

Northern Ireland:

• Belfast 2024 Creative Programme open call: Promoters/artists in Belfast can submit ideas that celebrate creativity in Belfast and receive funding to make them happen.
• Arts Council NI funding for organisations: Arts Council NI offer a range of support schemes for arts organisations in Northern Ireland.

Ireland:

• Sound & Vision 4: Radio broadcasters in Ireland - especially those in the Irish language - can apply for a grant when the next rounds open. This is funded through the television licensing fee.

Any funding/help sources we've left off this list that you think we should know about? Send them over to [email protected].