AmplifyWorld, the fan engagement platform founded by Kasabian's Ian Matthews and tech entrepreneur Irfon Watkins, have announced the launch of a $500,000 Artist Fund programme that aims to support forward-thinking musicians worldwide.
Following a successful trial at the Isle of Wight Festival, applications to the AmplifyWorld Artist Fund are officially open as of today (10 July 2024). Musicians working at all levels, and in all genres, are being invited to apply for grants ranging from $1000 to $50,000 to help advance their careers — to submit an application, they must have a Discord account and a Spotify Artist profile.
The organisation say that they are looking for applicants who demonstrate exceptional musical talent and creativity, have a clear vision and plan for how they would use the grant, and share AmplifyWorld’s passion for innovation and the power of music to connect people. The grants can be used to cover all music-related expenses, from songwriting and recording to production, marketing and touring. Applicants are encouraged to apply for an amount that matches their project scope.
With governments in the UK and the US falling short in supporting musicians, independent players like us have to come up with solutions like this. We wanted to make sure grants were significant enough to really make an impact. That’s why artists can apply for up to $50,000. We’re looking for artists with exceptional talent who also have an ambitious and clear vision for their future that embraces innovation. Anyone not embracing innovation is going to have a much harder time cutting through. - Ian Matthews, Kasabian drummer and Co-Founder of AmplifyWorld
AmplifyWorld is a decentralised fan engagement platform that uses cutting-edge Web3 technology to empower artists in community building, music distribution, marketing and promotion. The fund has been financed by reallocating the organisations 2024 marketing budget: instead of investing in Meta and Google ads, they've decided to put half a million dollars directly into the hands of musicians. Along with the grant itself, recipients will also receive free access to AmplifyWorld’s advanced tools, allowing them to distribute their tracks, engage with fans via mailing lists, create smart links, build personalised web pages and domains, sell merchandise, encourage subscriptions and tips, and view transparent analytics.
Applications are open now until 1 September 2024. Shortlisted applicants will undergo a second-round interview, and the first grantees will be announced before the end of 2024. To find out more about the Artist Fund, including details on how to apply, take a look at the Amplify World website.
