Music licensing organisation to fund East London arts school

Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) has announced it will provide financial support to East London Arts & Music academy (ELAM) to fund specialist education programmes for the next three years.

A full-time industry academy providing 16- to 19-year-olds from underrepresented communities with a specialist education in Music, Film and Television Production,and Games Design, PPL hopes its investment in ELAM will help drive more diversity and equity in the creative and cultural industries. Previous graduates include Graduates FLO, winner of BBC’s Sound of 2023, and Naomi Kimpenu, winner of the 2022 Ivor Novello Rising Star Award.

The funding will be directed towards programmes to ensure equal access to ELAM’s specialist education, including its Industry Engagement Programme, pastoral and mental health support, student recruitment and outreach, peripatetic music tuition and travel bursaries.

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“It’s a privilege to partner with PPL to ensure our young people receive the specialist education and support they need in order to thrive and leave ELAM with the greatest chance of future success,” said Matt Sheldon, ELAM Principal.

“We are delighted to have PPL’s support over the next three years, which will help us to transform the lives and futures of some of London’s most promising but disadvantaged young people.”

PPL licenses recorded music in the UK when it is played in public or broadcast to ensure revenue is collected for its members, including record companies and performers. In 2023, the organisation paid out £279.6m to more than 165,000 performers and recording rights holders, the highest in the organisation’s 90-year history.

Peter Leathem, CEO of PPL, added: “At PPL, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of music performers and ensuring we have an industry that is truly representative.

"We hope this funding will give young people the space to hone and develop their talents and create essential industry connections so they can build successful and sustainable careers.”