Gilles Peterson to helm new grassroots music initiative from Monkey Shoulder and Worldwide FM

Worldwide FM has teamed up with Scottish whisky brand Monkey Shoulder to launch a new initiative to support grassroots music communities in the UK, US, Nigeria, India, and Taiwan. With a £10,000 grant up for grabs, the partnership will allow a creative community to bring to life a pioneering project that spotlights their scene. You can apply here.

Studio Monkey Shoulder is curated by Worldwide FM and its founder, DJ, broadcaster and label head Gilles Peterson, who are working with the premium whisky brand to discover and support a grassroots music community project. The UK's impressive musical landscape is built on the pillars of energised communities formed in and around independent venues, radio stations, record stores, collectives and club nights, and this initiative will help identify one trailblazing music community and work with them to develop an original project with a £10,000 grant, chosen by Gilles Peterson and the Worldwide FM team.

“This is exactly why I started Worldwide FM radio, and there are so many other incredible community driven projects out there I want to uncover, which is what excites me about Studio Monkey Shoulder,” Gilles explains. “We have no idea where this is going to take us but can’t wait to see and hear it.”

The grant will be given to a community, collective, or music organisation who work to uplift grassroots music. As well as the investment, they will also have the opportunity to create their own event and feature at the centre of a series of films and radio broadcasts produced in collaboration with Worldwide FM.

"The Studio Monkey Shoulder fund could make a big difference to some of the UK’s grassroots collectives," says Lex Blondin, founder of the game-changing cultural hub Total Refreshment Centre in East London. “For a small independent organisation, having funding means they can continue doing what they love: to provide a space for young talent to develop their craft with like-minded peers whilst connecting to new audiences locally and internationally."

“Monkey Shoulder believes things are better when they are mixed. That applies to our whisky as it also does to music scenes that foster creativity, diversity and new thinking,” says Ieuan Morgan, Global Brand Manager for Monkey Shoulder. “Our ambition is to serve as a long-term supporter of grassroots music scenes. By partnering with Gilles and Worldwide FM, we look forward to discovering new talent, unearthing and telling their stories and collectively stir things up a little.”

Applications to the initiative are now open. To find out more and apply for the grant, visit the Monkey Shoulder website here.