Boiler Room launches True Music Fund

True Music Fund is courtesy of Boiler Room and whisky brand Ballantine’s and is intended for artists, creative promoters and independent programmers. It is part of Ballantine’s longstanding commitment to push music scenes forward, support artists, fans, crews and communities around the world.

“The first project backed by Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music Fund will come to life in Spain in early 2020,” a press statement says. “The fund will later visit South Africa, with more countries to be announced. Successful applicants of the Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music Fund will receive financial backing as well as support from Boiler Room’s in-house programming team and industry network.

“From advice on producing new event formats, recommendations on promoting new club nights, how-to-programme educational workshops and the investment to make it happen, the True Music Fund will support a series of local events to bring True Music communities on the forefront and help them thrive thereafter.”

Ballantine’s head of music Tom Elton said: “This is a major step change in our partnership with Boiler Room. We’ve put on 28 amazing events and given a platform to more than 220 artists from emerging scenes, now is the time for True Music to really step up and give back to the communities we have been visiting over the years.

“Our aim is to help empower individuals within the community by taking away the financial stresses and allowing them to focus on making their music projects a reality, which we hope in turn will inspire others to pick up the baton, promoting a cycle of reinvestment for the long-term.”

Boiler Room founder and CEO Blaise Bellville said the funding would seek to kick-start local event ideas as well as sustain existing ones.

“This fund is the first of its kind for Boiler Room and Ballantine’s and we're making it an open call on our channels, one country at a time. So, if you're based in that country the door is open for you to apply.

“True Music Fund isn’t here to takeover individual projects; whoever we end up backing will still be at the helm – we want you to do it your way with some support from us. This is an exciting initiative for us which we hope will further the music and culture that this series champions.”