2025 might be drawing to a close, but the music industry isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. So whether you’re looking to boost your knowledge on key areas of the industry or apply for grant funding, November is full of opportunities for songwriters at every career level.
From the next PRS Members’ Day through to initiatives such as MOBO UnSung, we’ve rounded up five key openings that music creators should check out this month.
Head to Sheffield for PRS Members’ Day
PRS Members’ Day gives you the chance to hear from and meet music industry experts, senior PRS for Music figures and members alike, all while gathering the kind of knowledge that could help you take the next step in your music career.
This latest event, which will take place at Trafalgar Warehouse in Sheffield later this month, will feature two expert-led panels on maximising your royalties (more on this shortly) and live music. There will also be dedicated 121 sessions with the team behind PRS Members’ Fund, which can be booked in advance if you want to find out more about applying for their range of hardship funding.
Members’ Day Sheffield is set for 18 November and is open to all PRS members — you can now register to attend.
Get tickets for Your Roots Are Showing 2026
The annual Irish industry conference Your Roots Are Showing celebrates folk, roots and traditional music heritage from across the globe. This includes Irish traditional music, Americana, bluegrass, world music, alt-folk and contemporary acoustic, with this year's conference set to attract over 1000 attendees from over 20 countries, as well as 100 showcasing artists.
The flagship event of the nonprofit organisation which lends it its name — and is usually ‘focused on ensuring that folk and traditional musicians have access to learning opportunities, mental health resources and career development support’ — Your Roots Are Showing 2026 will take place in Belfast from 14-18 January, with a special ‘Folk in Fusion’ concert happening the previous night (13 January) to kick things off.
At the conference, you can attend the Gig Fair (where ‘agents, labels, media, festivals and visionaries’ can meet, network and collaborate), get involved in immersive workshops and listen to a range of expert-led panels. Head over to their website to explore the various ticket options.
Apply for Help Musicians’ UK Rap Award
The brainchild of the charity Help Musicians — and supported by prominent DJ and broadcaster Tiffany Calver — the UK Rap Award is a 12-month programme for music creators working within UK rap and several of its sub-genres, providing them with the tools they need to develop their careers.
Successful applicants will each receive up to £3000 in funding to elevate their music project, but, as Help Musicians point out, this is ‘more than just financial support’. Creators thinking of applying should already be looking to develop their sound, expand their live presence or refine their business approach. As well as the funding grant, the programme will support each successful applicant’s long-term growth through tailored mentoring and peer collaboration over the course of a year.
The application window for the UK Rap Award opens on 24 November, and you can read all of the eligibility criteria for the programme on Help Musicians’ website.
Dial in to PRS’s Make Music Your Business webinar
When it comes to maximising your royalties, it's always a good idea to allocate a bit of time in your packed diary to making sure the basics are being taken care of. Whether you're a songwriter, composer or producer, PRS's Make Music Your Business webinar is your guide to managing your music, getting your PRS account up to speed and maximising your earnings.
Key areas that will be covered include getting started with PRS and managing your online account, registering your music and ensuring your metadata is accurate, and reporting live performances. These online sessions have been designed to help you realise and unlock the full potential of your work, and make sure that you're not leaving any hard-earned royalties on the table.
The webinar will take place on 11 and 13 November. Find out further information and confirm your attendance now.
Sign up for MOBO Unsung
MOBO Unsung has an impressive track record when it comes to elevating emerging talent. Created to offer life-changing opportunities for rising artists to accelerate their careers, previous beneficiaries include the established likes of Tiana Major9, Tion Wayne and Jordan Adetunji.
Held in partnership with Marshall and supported by PRS Foundation, UnSung's annual nationwide search will culminate in 10 finalists being chosen, who will form the UnSung Class of 2025. Doing much more than just spotlighting talent, successful applicants will enter an artist development programme which will unlock a host of opportunities, including studio time, live performances, workshops, mentoring, A&R support and more.
Applications are open now and will close on 20 November. In order to apply, you need to fill out an online form with important information about yourself, your brand and your music. Good luck!
