Funding > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question about who we are, what we do and who we fund? You will probably find the answer below.

About us

How much money do you have to distribute?
We distributed £1.6 million in 2011.

How do you define "new music"?
We define it as music in any genre, written by a living UK-based music creator (i.e. composer, producer, songwriter).

What kind of activity do you support?
We offer support to Organisations and Individuals through our open funding schemes.

We also run partnership programmes to support the development of new music, please visit the Partnerships section of our website to find out more.

Do you help individuals to promote their music?
We do not offer career advice to individuals. For information, please visit the professional development section of our website.

Who are the Trustees?
Visit the Trustees section of our website to find out more.

Funding for for Individuals and Organisations

What do you support?
Our funding schemes are open to any individual or not-for-profit organisation whose project or programme fits with all three of our funding priorities:

  • to support the creation and performance of outstanding new music in any genre
  • to develop artists to their full potential
  • to inspire audiences

To read about the projects we’ve funded in previous years, visit the Projects We've Funded section of our website.

How do you define projects and programmes?
We define a project as a one-off activity, e.g. a commission, composer residency, education project or tour.

A programme could comprise different activities, e.g. a series of live events, festival programme, website development (if related to your new music activity), artist development programme or multiple commissions.

What do you mean by commission?
We define a commission as an organisation or individual engaging a music creator to write new work.

What if I’m an indiviual creating my own music?
Individuals are able to apply for funding for creating new music to be performed live. In this instance, we insist that the resulting live performances are promoted by an organisation or individual with a strong track record of events in the genre.

What is the correct music creator fee?
This should be based on the time it will take the music creator to write the new material, which can depend on a number of factors including the number of parts and the length of the piece. Commission fees (i.e. what the music creator is being paid to create the new music) can also vary depending on the music creator’s experience.

Is your funding right for me?

How much funding can I apply for?
First-time applicants may apply for up to £5,000. Those who have been funded in previous years may apply for up to £25,000.

From 2012, we envisage that our average award across all schemes will be around £6,000. It is important to ask us for a realistic sum and only request what you need.

How many applicants received the full amount requested?

In 2012, 52% of applicants received the full amount requested.

Are there any restrictions on whom or what you support?
We are currently unable to support: companies limited by shares; recordings/demos; bursaries or tuition fees; capital projects (e.g. building work); fundraising events for other charities; equipment purchase and organisations which have been running for less than 18 months.

Please note that we are unable to accept a re-applications for a project which has already been turned down for funding.

Where can I find funding for the above?
The Musicians Benevolent Fund has a very useful tool for seeking funding. If you are based in England, another option is to apply to your regional Arts Council for Grants for the Arts. Open schemes are also run by Arts Council Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Creative Scotland.

I would like to commission a new work but don't really know how to go about it, can you guide me?
There are excellent guides to the commissioning process available on the Making Music website

If you are still unsure, please view the following websites for further advice:

Can I apply for a project or event that has already happened?
No. Projects can not take place before the decision date as we are unable to offer retrospective support.

If applying for a commission or premiere, the first performance date must be at least one month after our stated decision date, or we will assume the music has already been written.

Applicants may only seek funds for a commission on one occasion. We will not accept applications for further support towards a commission, regardless of the original decision. Nor will we accept applications seeking funds for touring of a previously supported commission.

Can the funding pay for working with a producer?
If it is part of the creative process, then working with a producer can be part of a funded project. We are unable to fund direct recording costs.

Why can’t the funding support recordings?
We focus our support on projects which bring live music to new audiences. Due to this focus and our limited funds, support is not currently offered towards recording costs.

Why won’t you fund me in my first 18 months?
We want to support organisations and projects that are sustainable and so we need proof that what you are doing is viable. The best way to show this is through your track record.

Do you support activity outside the UK?
We support overseas activity through our British Music Abroad scheme.

You are welcome to apply for activity which involves an overseas organisation (e.g. to co-commission a new work from a music creator), but we are unable to support activity outside the UK through our Individuals and Organisations schemes.

Application Process

How are applications assessed?
Stage 1 applications are assessed primarily on the quality of the music submitted and how well your activity fits with our funding priorities.

Successful Stage 1 applications are invited to progress on to Stage 2.

Stage 2 application forms are assessed in a similar way to Stage 1, but in greater detail. Assessors will also focus on your budgets, financial records and a longer list of project performances.

When completing your application, remember that you will need to prove that your project fits with our three funding priorities:

  • to support the creation and performance of outstanding new music in any genre
  • to develop artists to their full potential
  • to inspire audiences UK-wide

Who will read my application and listen to the music?
Your application will be assessed separately by both our staff and external advisors. This is to ensure transparency and fairness.

Your music and application will be sent to an advisor with a good knowledge of your musical genre. It is important that you select music which will provide assessors with a clear view of what you are planning to create or commission.

Why must I use a home page, Bandcamp, Soundcloud or Youtube for my online musical examples?
They are clear and easy to use for both staff and applicants. For information on setting up accounts, please visit the Soundcloud and Youtube information pages.

Please note that we do not accept links to last.fm, MySpace, Sendspace and Yousendit.

Who are the advisors?
Our advisory panel is comprised of over 100 experienced individuals and covers a wide range of musical genres. All of our advisors have worked in music for many years and have strong links to us. We do not release the names of our advisors to prevent influence, ensuring that our assessment process as fair as possible.

How should I present the application?
Include only the requested information. Convey your passion about the project you are applying for, whilst being clear and concise. The language you use should be easy to understand and you should avoid making statements that can not be backed up by facts.

Why do you use a budget template at Stage 2?
Many previous applicants have requested a budget template. The use of templates also ensures that all applications are assessed on an equal basis.

Why is there a 12 week turnaround?
We have a very small team assessing applications and we want to ensure that all submissions are given a fair amount of time.

Also, the two-stage system means that you will have adequate time to complete the process. Many other other trusts and foundations offer similar timescales.

How to Apply

How do I access an application form?
Online application forms for all schemes (apart from Composer Bursaries) can be accessed from each Funding Scheme section of our website. E.g. if you wish to apply for Funding for Individuals go to this section of the website (you can use Suggested Link button at the bottom of this page).

How do I continue working on an online application that I have saved? Please follow this link to the account homepage.

Can I apply for administration and office costs?
We fund creative projects, which means that we are unable to provide core funding to organisations or living costs to individuals. However you can ask for administration costs of up to 15% of the requested amount.

Do you fully fund projects?
No. In view of the size of our grants, we usually expect to make a contribution to an overall budget rather than supporting the whole project. Other income can include ticket sales, support from other funders and your own contribution. In-kind support should be listed separately, but will also be considered.

Do I need to supply all the information asked for on the application form?
Yes. We aim to make our forms as simple as possible, but the information we request is essential. If you do not include all the requested information, your application will be rejected.

How many times can I apply each year?
You can apply to the Organisations or Individual schemes once per calendar year, regardless of the outcome. We can not consider applications for the same project more than once.

Contacting Us

Can I contact you before making an application?
No. Due to the high number of applications made each year, we regret that we can not offer specific telephone or email support prior to Stage 1 applications.

General questions can be asked through our online contact form, or on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please note that as we are a very small team, it may take up to five working days to respond to enquiries.

Can I contact you to make sure my application has been received?
No. We receive hundreds of applications at each deadline and it can take some time before they are all processed. You will receive an automated response stating that your application has been received after submission.

Do you give feedback if my application is rejected?
We provide feedback to Stage 2 applicants within a set timeframe of one week (applicants will be informed of the date in the decision email). We realise that everyone works very hard on their applications, but due to the high amount of submissions received, we cannot respond to Stage 1 applicants.

We also believe that attending one of four funding seminars held during the year may be more useful than a telephone conversation. The seminars will enable you to meet other applicants and our team. These events will be listed on our website.

Do you have an appeals process?
No. The Trustees’ decision is final and we do not accept appeals. You are however welcome to re-apply for a different project the following year.

When will I know the outcome of my application?
Decision dates are referenced in the funding section of our website. You will usually hear 12 weeks after the deadline and we will contact you by email to inform you of the decision.