Fast Track
Support of up to £500 to help you seize an opportunity
Sometimes, opportunities arise that can have a lasting, positive impact on your career as a musician.
Whether it’s a short course, investing in new software, or taking opportunities to record and release, Fast Track is here to help you seize those opportunities.
Fast Track is competitive so please make sure you have read the full eligibility criteria to make sure this is right for you.
If you’re not successful, there are still ways we can support you. We run regular online Business Skills sessions open to all musicians, as well as other services — including mentoring and career development programmes — which have their own eligibility criteria. Take a look at what might be right for you.
What and who is this support for?
This financial support can go towards anything from courses, networking opportunities and equipment to costs associated with recording and releasing. See a full list of what you can and can’t spend the grant on here.
Our panel consider each application and review them for opportunity, need and impact. We are particularly looking for applications that show that the support will help you grow your music career and income in the long term.
A full list of who and what we can support, as well as tips on what we’re looking for in an application, can be found in the application guidance.
Who can apply?
The programme is aimed at working and early career musicians who are actively building sustainable careers in music and need timely investment to grow or stabilise their income.
Full eligibility criteria can be found here. We strongly recommend you read these before making an application.
Beyond this, you must be able to deliver the activities we’re supporting within 6 months of receiving the money. You must also have control over one or more aspects of your career, i.e., self-managing, self-releasing or self-producing.
To help you apply, check our eligibility guidance, FAQs and application tips linked below. Reading these before you apply will give you the best chance of success.
Not sure which Fast Track programme is right for you?
Help Musicians currently offers two Fast Track funding programmes. You can only apply for the programme that best matches the opportunity you need support for.
Fast Track Live supports musicians with live-performance opportunities such as tours, festivals, showcases, support slots and launch shows.
Fast Track supports other career development activity, including recording and releasing music, equipment, software, training, professional development and networking opportunities.
If your application is primarily about a live-performance opportunity, Fast Track Live may be a better fit for you.