PRS Foundation Launches New Grant to Support Under-Represented Composers

Four young composers have received £2,500 grants to assist them to launch careers writing music for film and television

Launched in 2000, the PRS Foundation is the leading charitable funder of new music in the UK — and since its inception, the Foundation has given £47 million in grants to more than 8,500 new music initiatives.

Recently, the Foundation has collaborated with Amazon MGM Studios to launch a new targeted funding initiative. Known as Prelude, the initiative addresses under-representation in the world of media composition by supporting UK-based composers of minority backgrounds to begin their careers.

The grants are specifically targeted at those working in film and television productions and will help them to develop their skills — as well as open up networks of composers within the industry.

Each composer has been awarded a grant of £2,500, and the grants were officially acknowledged at a launch ceremony in London on November 18, 2024.

The selected composers are as follows:

• Lucy Hackett
• MIRARI
• Rebekah Reid (Täpp Collective)
• Ruth Lyon

"It’s always been a dream of mine to compose for film and media and it feels incredible to be selected for the Prelude programme with PRS Foundation and Amazon MGM Studios," said composer Rebekah Reid. "I feel so close to breaking through into the film/media industry as a composer, and having the opportunity to work with a leading film and TV production studio will help me to advance to the next level, and successfully establish my name as a Black/British female film composer in the media industry."

"We’re incredibly proud to be launching this new initiative together with Amazon MGM Studios," said PRS Foundation CEO Joe Frankland. "At PRS Foundation we know that underrepresentation and complex barriers exist across all parts of the music industry, including for talented composers and songwriters looking to develop careers in media composition. While it is key to recognise the circumstances, challenges and barriers, fundamentally, it is something we must tackle collectively to support the array of talent we have in the UK to reach their potential."

"Huge congratulations to Lucy Hackett, MIRARI, Rebekah Reid and Ruth Lyon on being selected for this inaugural cohort of Prelude, the calibre was so high, and we were so impressed with all the applications received. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the impact of this support for the grantees over the coming months and the opportunities that open up."