Open call: Ballantine’s True Music Fund

To date, the initiative has supported over 30 music collectives and will have committed £500 000 (about $621 000) in funding by the end of 2025. This year, True Music Fund has eight grants between £5k to 30k on offer plus additional support from a dedicated mentor to help bring those passions and projects to life.

Applications are open to anyone with a passion for music. Eight recipients will receive a share of the funding, along with mentorship from industry experts, propelling their dream music project into life whilst staying true to themselves and doing things their own way.

Recipients of the grant will be paired with an established industry expert as their mentor, selected based on their ability to help unlock their passion in music and assist in amplifying their voices in the relevant space. With the support of Ballantine’s and shesaid.so’s far-reaching networks, the eight recipients will be able to turn their music dreams into a reality.

What is needed to apply for the True Music Fund:

Who’s behind the project?

• Applicants should introduce themselves to the team. Share a short paragraph that highlights who they are and what they do.

Applicants should show what they’ve done

• Applicants should share their online presence (website, social media profiles, or portfolios) and examples of their previous projects or work.

Share big idea

• Applicants should pitch their ideas in up to 1000 words. The business plan should outline their vision, goals, and strategies.
• Applicants should paint a picture of what they want to achieve with the fund and how it will benefit them in the long term.

Countdown to launch

• Applicants should lay out a six-month timeline to show how they’ll bring their idea to life.
• From brainstorming to execution, applicants should walk the organisers through the key milestones that will take them from concept to reality.

The 2025 edition of Ballantine’s True Music Fund is powered by shesaid.so, a global community of women, gender nonconforming people and allies in the music industry. With a common pursuit of self-expression and equity in the music space, it felt like a natural fit for the two partners to join forces and support those needing resources to realise their dream projects, whilst promoting diversity and inclusion within industry.

Applicants should apply here before 14 March.

View the original call here.