Nigeria-born British artist Azekel awarded Step Up Fund grant

Established in 2022, the initiative is a collaboration between The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Amazon Music, with the top 10 being determined by a panel of independent industry professionals.

Azekel, known for his soulful R&B style and collaborations with Massive Attack and Gorillaz, as well as supporting Erykah Badu, joined other UK-based acts in receiving grants of up to £8 000, along with additional support in mentoring, a one-year PRO membership to the FAC, a one-year subscription to Amazon Music and content creation opportunities.

According to a statement, all awardees presented a strong business case for support and will use the funding for various music-related activities such as recording, mastering, video production, PR and marketing and touring.

“Since we launched Step Up in 2022, I’ve been consistently inspired by the quality and sheer volume of artists who apply,” FAC CEO David Martin said. “This year was no exception. The range and diversity have been incredibly strong.”

He added: “There is evidently a real need for more of this kind of targeted funding that can help independent artists realise their potential and build sustainable careers. Thanks to the generosity of Amazon Music, the FAC’s Step Up Fund is playing a real part to help address that challenge. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together in such a short amount of time, and look forward to seeing how 2024’s awardees progress over the next 12 months.”

Amazon Music head of music UK, Australia & New Zealand Laura Lukanz added: “Teaming up with the FAC to support the Step Up Fund for a third year continues to be a highlight of the year for the team and me. The outstanding calibre of applications we receive every year serves as a powerful reminder of the immense pool of talented artists we have in the UK. Making our selections is always a challenging process. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the 10 artists receiving a grant each this year.”

The Step Up Fund is open to UK-based artists aged 18 and over who have released at least three songs in the past year, each garnering a minimum of 15 000 streams, or one song with at least 45 000 streams on a UK chart-eligible streaming platform. Applicants cannot be signed to a major or large independent record label.

In related news, on 1 August Amazon Music released a documentary titled Dare to Dream, starring Nigerian Afrobeats diva Ayra Starr. Directed by HOMECOMING, the film chronicles her rise from Cotonou to Lagos, London, and Los Angeles, where she attended the 2024 Grammy Awards. The documentary also discusses her goal to inspire African and Black girls, as well as her aspirations to transition into acting.