News
Stay informed with the latest from the SMIA, including our own news, developments, and exclusive features, alongside key music industry updates from Scotland and beyond.
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PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Music Fund open for applications
The PPL Momentum Music Fund is open for applications, offering grants of £5k-£15k for UK-based artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing. Applications can be made for costs associated with recording an album, EP or single, including studio hire and session musician…
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A Redefined SMIA Membership…
In response to the challenges facing our industry, and to provide enhanced communications, opportunities and support to both current and prospective members, we’re redefining SMIA membership following consultation with both our Advisory Group and Company Board. SMIA membership remains free, and is open to anyone working in music in Scotland. Whatever stage you’re at in…
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Announcing our 2021/22 Priorities
Since April 2020, the SMIA has sat with the Scottish Commercial Music Industry Taskforce (SCMIT) – a lobbying group comprised of promoters, festivals, agents and artist managers – who have been leading voices in the implementation of both the Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers (HFCF) and the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund (COVRF), and…
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New Music Scotland announce the Scottish Awards for New Music 2021
New Music Scotland are pleased to announce that nominations for the fifth annual Scottish Awards for New Music are now open. The Scottish Awards for New Music celebrate Scotland’s creatively ambitious and vibrant contemporary music scene, showcasing some of the most innovative, experimental and ground-breaking work taking place in Scotland. The awards highlight the depth…
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Impala launches sustainability programme aiming for a net positive music community by 2030
IMPALA, the European independent music companies association, is launching a sustainability programme to help make the European independent music sector more sustainable. The package consists of a climate charter for IMPALA, overall targets and voluntary tools for members. IMPALA’s ambition is to aim for a climate positive membership by 2030, with an interim net zero target…
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Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards sees The SAY Award 2020 PR Campaign Shortlisted
The PR campaign for 2020’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has been Shortlisted for a Marketing Society Scotland Star Award. As part of the Communications Category, the Shortlist for Best PR campaign is as follows: In a year like no other, we worked with Material PR on the delivery of our most impactful…
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Music helped the UK get through lockdown, BPI data reveals
Data published ahead of the BPI’s new All About the Music 2021 yearbook has revealed that music raised the nation’s spirits since the pandemic began. The new data shows the impact music had on the UK throughout the 2020 lockdowns, and particularly the increase in music listening across Britain to aid in wellness, motivation and…
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Two new strands of support for Help Musicians’ Music Minds Matter service
Help Musicians has announced new plans to expand its existing Music Minds Matter service. The charity recently published the results of a study it conducted, which found that the combined impact of the coronavirus lockdown and fears over the Brexit deal’s insufficient support for touring musicians is taking an unprecedented toll on the mental health of musicians in the…
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The Snuts take on Demi Lovato for Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart
The Snuts’ debut album ‘W.L.’ is battling Demi Lovato’s seventh studio record ‘Dancing With The Devil… The Art of Starting Over’ for Number 1 on this week’s Official Albums Chart. The West Lothian rising stars are leading the pack, racking up the most vinyl and download sales of the week so far. Should The Snuts…
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Black Lives In Music launches to empower musicians and fight racism
A new organisation called Black Lives In Music has launched a data-driven mission to amplify and empower black musicians and professionals.
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UK Music event to map out live music restart a year after lockdown
One year since Covid-19 forced the live music sector into silence, UK Music is hosting a lunchtime webinar event to explore what needs to be done to get live music back on stage.
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King Tut’s gets backing of music community as planning appeal approaches
Scotland’s music community has rallied around one of the cities most iconic music venues in the face of a planning fight.
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Submissions open for AIM Awards 2021, which sees the launch of new livestream and diversity categories
Submissions are now open for the AIM Independent Music Awards, which returns for 2021 with an immersive virtual event on September 9.
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Moving Forward: Approaches to managing Brexit for the Scottish music industry
The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) today (11 March) unveils it’s ‘Moving Forward: Approaches to managing Brexit for the Scottish music industry’ report; published following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 and the signing of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement.
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The British Music Embassy reveals SXSW Online 2021 line-up
The British Music Embassy, SXSW’s venue for hotly-tipped UK artists has unveils 35 artist showcases as part of SXSW Online 2021.
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Scottish Government announces business rates relief to be extended for full year
Scottish retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will not pay non-domestic rates throughout the next financial year, under plans announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.