As you may recall, the Lynsey de Paul Prize – our joint programme with the PRS for Music Foundation – has been a huge success since it was launched, continuing Lynsey’s legacy of assisting young women artists taking their first steps into the industry.

The Lynsey de Paul Prize is an opportunity for emerging female solo music creators – of any genre – to receive a talent development bursary of £2,500 for the winner and £750 for three runners up each. To further help them take the next step in their careers, the winner and runners up will also receive £500 worth of mentoring support from a music industry expert.

Lynsey was an award-winning songwriter, producer and presenter who helped pave the way for other writers in music. The first female songwriter to win an Ivor Novello award, Lynsey composed twelve top twenty hit records, achieving success throughout her career. As a writer and musician, PRS for Music Director, and our own trustee here at the PRS for Music Members Benevolent Fund, Lynsey was well aware of the challenges women face in the music industry and it’s testament to her character and her kindness that we are able to continue this prize into 2017.

The deadline to submit applications for the prize is Tuesday 1 August 2017 and artists must apply by submitting a video via this link, where further details and information on eligibility are available.

Joe Frankland, Senior Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation says,

“The Lynsey de Paul Prize has unearthed a number of very talented female music creators at early stages in their careers and we’re proud to have supported seven of them so far to take their next steps – from the Dermot O’Leary favourite Emma McGrath, to the sublimely unpredictable talent of Elsa Hewitt. We really enjoy working with the PRS for Music Members’ Benevolent Fund to continue Lynsey de Paul’s great legacy and look forward to sifting through more video applications to find four more female music creators who stand out in 2017.”

John Logan, General Secretary of PRS for Music Members Benevolent Fund says,

“The Lynsey de Paul Prize is a fantastic initiative honouring the memory of the hugely talented Lynsey and supporting the next generation of female music creators, which was always important to her. We’re delighted to be partnering with our friends from PRS Foundation and we’re looking forward to seeing who follows the fantastic winners and runners-up from the last two years of the Prize.”

Good luck to all entrants!