Launchpad fund to help Welsh musicians take the next steps

Launchpad will offer up to 25 grants of up to £2,000 each and is designed to support activities that will help artists or bands to fulfill their potential and reach the next level.

In its third year, the Launchpad Fund - which is aimed at those starting out on their musical careers - is part of the Horizons scheme to develop new and independent contemporary music in Wales.
Launchpad applications will be open from Monday, September 5 to Wales based artists and bands writing, producing and performing original contemporary popular music. Entries for 2016 will close midnight on Wednesday, October 5, 2016.

Rhosgadfan band Castles, who were selected to play this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival, was one of the bands who benefited from the Launchpad fund. The band says it gave them the boost they needed: “As well as helping to fund the making and releasing of our debut album, the funding towards manufacturing physical copies will enable us to re-invest in the band from the revenue generated from selling them, which means we will be able to fund band projects in future,” said Dion Hamer from the band.

“The achievements we've gained this year would have taken years to accomplish without the help of the Launchpad Fund.”

The Horizons Launchpad funding has also helped a band called The Cradles from Cardiff and helped their music reach a wider audience. Declan Andrews from the band said: “We used the funding to market our material online and on the radio. Since receiving funding, our music has had airplay on radio stations such as BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio, Radio X and BBC Radio Wales.

“The money we received helped enormously in a flooded industry where bands without the necessary finance are too often put at a disadvantage. The Launchpad Fund is such a positive way of allowing talented artists to take their music further and in our instance, it’s really worked.”

For more information about the Launchpad Fund and how to apply, go to the Launchpad website bbc.co.uk/horizons

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CRONFA LAWNSIO I HELPU ARTISTIAID GYMRYD Y CAM NESAF

Mae Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a BBC Cymru yn galw ar artistiaid a bandiau yng Nghymru i wneud cais am y Gronfa Lawnsio eleni .

Bydd y gronfa yn cynnig hyd at 25 o grantiau hyd at £2,000 yr un ac mae wedi ei gynllunio i gefnogi gweithgareddau a fydd yn helpu artistiaid neu fandiau i gyflawni eu potensial a chyrraedd y lefel nesaf.

Dyma drydedd flwyddyn y Gronfa Lawnsio, sydd ar gael i’r rheiny sy’n dechrau ar eu taith gerddorol, ac mae’n rhan o’r cynllun Gorwelion i ddatblygu cerddoriaeth newydd ac annibynnol yng Nghymru.

Mi fydd ceisiadau Lawnsio yn agor ar 5 Medi i artistiaid a bandiau sy’n byw yng Nghymru ac sy’n ysgrifennu, cynhyrchu a pherfformio cerddoriaeth gyfoes boblogaidd a gwreiddiol. Mae angen gyrru ceisiadau i mewn erbyn hanner nos, Hydref 5, 2016.

Mae Cestyll/Castles, o Rosgadfan, a ddewiswyd ar gyfer Gŵyl Reading a Leeds eleni, yn un o’r bandiau wnaeth elwa o’r cynllun. Roedd y band yn teimlo bod y gronfa wedi rhoi’r hwb hwnnw oedd ei angen arnynt: “Yn ogystal â helpu i ariannu creu a rhyddhau ein halbwm gyntaf, mae’r arian a rhoddwyd at wneuthuriad y copïau yn ffordd i ni ail-fuddsoddi yn y band o’r incwm gawn ni yn eu gwerthu nhw, sy’n golygu y gallwn ni ariannu prosiectau eraill yn y dyfodol,” meddai Dion Hamer o’r band.

“Rydyn ni wedi cyflawni cymaint dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, a rheiny’n bethau fyddai wedi cymryd blynyddoedd i ni gyflawni heb help y Gronfa Lawnsio.”

Mae’r gronfa lawnsio hefyd wedi bod o fudd i fand o Gaerdydd The Cradles fynd â’u cerddoriaeth i gynulleidfa fwy eang. Dywedodd Declan Andrews, aelod o’r band: “Defnyddion ni’r gronfa i farchnata ein cerddoriaeth ar-lein ac ar y radio. Ers derbyn yr arian, mae ein cerddoriaeth wedi cael ei chwarae ar orsafoedd radio fel BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio, Radio X ac wrth gwrs BBC Radio Wales.

“Mae’r gronfa wedi bod yn help aruthrol i ni greu rhyw fath o bresenoldeb mewn diwydiant sy’n orlawn a ddim yn rhoi cyfle i fandiau sydd heb gyllid y tu ôl iddynt. Mae’r Gronfa Lawnsio yn ffordd bositif i adael i artistiaid talentog gymryd y cam nesaf gyda’u cerddoriaeth nhw ac, o’n profiad ni, mae’r gronfa wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol ac yn llwyddiannus.”

Am wybodaeth bellach am y Gronfa Lawnsio ewch i wefan Gorwelion bbc.co.uk/gorwelion

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