Are you the UK's young music entrepreneur 2008?

Are you passionate about music; an innovator looking for entrepreneurial ways to move the UK music industry forward? Are you looking to broaden your international business opportunities and to build your network? If this sounds like you then you could be the inaugural winner of this prestigious new award: UK Young Music Entrepreneur.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The award, created by the British Council in partnership with NESTA recognises the potential of an individual, aged between 25 and 35, working within the music industry, to be a future leader of the sector in the UK, and indeed internationally. Through character and drive this person will demonstrate entrepreneurship and vision for the future of music in the UK.

The award seeks to further stimulate the development of the UK music industry in an international business context. Our aim is to find the most talented young UK music entrepreneurs and give them the chance to find out more about what is happening out there, by joining the wider network of the British Council's existing International Young Creative Entrepreneur programme.

PRIZE

We are seeking to identify one winner and two runners-up who will be invited to take part in a specially designed and tailored tour of India's music industry. The tour will provide a real insight into the industry in one of the world's fastest developing and most dynamic economies. For any creative entrepreneur India's potential as a market, as a source for new sounds and new talent, cannot be overlooked. The tour will open the door to India's music industry, from Bollywood and the independent scene to classical and contemporary forms. The group will meet leading figures from the music industry in India, including members of the British Council network of young music entrepreneurs, and have the chance to learn first hand about how business is done there.

Applicants must be seeking to push the boundaries of the industry and have a vision for extending international business and cultural relations through music.

ELIGIBILITY

To apply for the award, candidates must:

• Be aged between 25 and 35
• Already work in the UK music sector (as defined below) with at least 3 years professional experience
• Be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability and innovative approach to the development of the UK music industry
• Through their character, drive and abilities demonstrate their potential to be a leader of the UK music business

MUSIC SECTOR DEFINITION

Candidates must already be active professionally in the UK music sector, to include:

• Record companies, including A&R
• Music production, recording or engineering
• Music licensing and distribution
• Venue and/or festival programming and management
• Artist management or agents
• Music broadcasting
• Music journalism and publishing
• Music development and management
• Music marketing, public and/or media relations
• Music retail, including digital
• Consultancy in any of these areas

We recognise that a participant may be active as a musician or DJ, however their work as an artist musical talent will not be factored into the judging procedure - finalists will be judged solely on the merit of their entrepreneurial abilities in the music business.

JUDGING PROCEDURE

All applications will be reviewed by a selection panel who will compile a shortlist of candidates to participate in the judging procedure. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with an independent UK music industry judging panel, who, through their existing application form and a Q&A session, will assess the candidates' entrepreneurial ability, leadership ability, market awareness, originality of ideas, and international outlook. For further information about the judging procedure please see the UKYME guidance notes, as below.

The judging panel will identify the UKYME winner and two runners-up to participate in the tour of the Indian music industry. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at London Calling on 20 June.

TIMELINE

6 May - DEADLINE for applications
Week of 9th or 16th of June - Judging interviews
20 June - Winner announced at award ceremony at London Calling

HOW TO APPLY

You can download the UKYME application form [PDF, Word Document] and UKYME guidance notes.
(please right click and choose save as to download PDF documents)

Please, by the 6 May deadline, return and complete the application form, clearly marked 'UKYME application' (either in hard or electronic copy) to:

CONTACT

Any questions about the award or application procedure please contact:

Claire de Braekeleer
Creative Economy Unit
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London
SW1A 2BN
Email: Claire.DeBraekeleer@britishcouncil.org