Music Jobs, Grants & Opportunities – October 2026 | MPW
Table of Contents
Why These Opportunities Matter
We Make Noise Studio Residency – Flux Studios
Make Your First Beat – Music Production for Women
Artist Bursary Scheme – Cork City Council
Tone Shift Micro-Fund – MusicNSW
She Is The Music Mentorship – Connect TogetHER
Key Takeaways
Funding: Explore support through Cork City Council and MusicNSW;
Studio access: We Make Noise is offering a week-long residency at Flux Studios for eligible artists in New York, Connecticut or New Jersey;
Mentorship: She Is The Music’s Connect TogetHER programme offers individual and group guidance for women in music.
Live performance: Artists worldwide can apply for a showcase at SXSW 2027 in Austin, Texas.
Artist development: Sound and Music’s In Motion combines funding, coaching and mentoring for UK-based creators.
Production skills: MPW’s free live masterclass helps beginners start making their own music.
Upcoming deadlines: She is The Music mentorship closes on 30 October 2026, Tone Shift closes on 31 October 2026, followed by In Motion on 2 November 2026. Check the application pages for closing times and eligibility requirements.
Looking for the latest music jobs, grants and opportunities?
Our October roundup brings together seven opportunities for artists and music professionals, covering recording support, equipment funding, studio residencies, mentorships, international showcases and music production training.
If you’re looking for practical industry experience, you can also explore our guide to music internships.
Why These Opportunities Matter
Recording music, buying equipment and developing your skills all take time and money.
Funding can help cover practical costs. Studio residencies give you space to focus on recording. Mentorships and workshops offer guidance you can use in your projects and career decisions.
Start with the opportunities that match what you need now. A clear reason for applying will also help you explain how the support would benefit your work.
We Make Noise Studio Residency – Flux Studios
Need dedicated studio time for your next recording?
We Make Noise is offering a week-long residency at Flux Studios in New York City’s East Village, where Lorde, Chappell Roan and André 3000 have recorded.
The selected artist can choose their residency dates between January and June 2027. Two runners-up will also receive one day each at the studio.
Who Is It For?
Artists aged 18 or over based in New York, Connecticut or New Jersey.
Main award: One-week studio residency
Runner-up awards: One studio day each for two runners-up
Location: New York City, USA
Residency dates: January–June 2027
View the requirements and apply for the We Make Noise Studio Residency.
Make Your First Beat – Music Production for Women
Want to produce your own music but don’t know where to start?
MPW’s free live production masterclass introduces you to creating a track from scratch.
Led by Xylo Aria, the session takes you through the production process step by step, helping you get familiar with the software and start putting your musical ideas together.
Who Is It For?
Singers, songwriters, instrumentalists and beginner producers who want to start making their own tracks.
No previous production experience is needed. Check the registration page for the next available session.
Price: Free
Format: Live online
Tutor: Xylo Aria
Register for MPW’s free music production masterclass.
In Motion – Sound and Music
Want support to explore a new direction in your music?
Sound and Music’s In Motion is an 18-month artist development programme for up to ten UK-based music creators. It combines funding with individual support to help participants develop their original work and creative practice.
What Does the Programme Include?
A £1,800 bursary
A production grant of up to £4,000
One-to-one support
Mentoring and networking opportunities
Who Is It For?
UK-based music creators aged over 18, working in any genre.
Applicants must have lived in the UK for the past two years, or be British citizens or hold settled status or indefinite leave to remain, while living in the UK and being UK tax residents at the time of application.
They must plan to remain UK residents with permission to stay until November 2028 and must not be in full-time or part-time study, or planning to begin studies during this period.
Applicants must submit two recordings of original compositions and must not have received a Sound and Music award, grant or commission, or participated in one of its programmes, within the past six months.
Funding: £1,800 bursary and a production grant of up to £4,000
Location: United Kingdom
Duration: 18 months
Deadline: 2 November 2026 · 23:59 GMT
Read the guidelines and apply for In Motion.
Artist Bursary Scheme – Cork City Council
Based in Cork City and looking for support to develop your work?
Cork City Council’s Artist Bursary Scheme offers up to €5,000 to individual practising artists for professional development.
Funding can support:
Training
International opportunities
Mentoring
A significant change in the direction of your work
Supported activities must take place in 2027.
Who Is It For?
Practising artists who live within Cork City Council’s administrative area.
Applicants must submit a CV, examples of previous work and, where relevant, evidence of support or partnerships.
Funding: Up to €5,000
Location: Cork City, Ireland
Activity dates: 2027
Deadline: 19 November 2026 · 4pm Irish time.
Focus: Professional development
Read the guidelines and apply for the Cork City Council Artist Bursary.
Tone Shift Micro-Fund – MusicNSW
Need equipment or studio time for your next project?
MusicNSW and Sound NSW’s Tone Shift micro-fund offers up to A$2,500 to help women, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists create and present new work.
What Can the Funding Cover?
Home recording equipment
Production software and tools
Studio hire
Instruments and performance equipment
Who Is It For?
Practising contemporary music artists who identify as women, trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming.
Applicants must:
Be 18 or over
Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
Have been based in New South Wales for at least 12 months
Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
For bands, at least 50% of members must reside in NSW. Artists do not need to have released music to apply.
Funding: Up to $2,500
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Deadline: 31 October 2026 · 11:59pm AEST
Outcomes announced: January 2027
Read the eligibility requirements and apply for Tone Shift.
She Is The Music Mentorship – Connect TogetHER
Looking for guidance on your next steps in music?
She Is The Music’s Connect TogetHER programme connects women in music with industry leaders. Running from October 2026 to March 2027, it offers two routes:
Direct Mentorship: A one-to-one match with at least two meetings and two industry introductions.
Group Mentorship (Circles): The opportunity to receive guidance in a group setting.
Who Is It For?
Women in music with clear career goals who are looking for guidance and professional connections to help achieve them.
Type: Mentorship
Options: One-to-one mentorship or group circles
Programme dates: October 2026–March 2027
Explore the application details for She Is The Music’s Connect TogetHER programme.
SXSW Music Festival Showcase 2027
Ready to take your live set to an international audience?
SXSW welcomes showcase applications for its 2027 Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
The festival brings together artists, industry professionals and audiences from around the world. Invited acts receive one official showcase performance, with a typical set lasting around 40 minutes.
Who Is It For?
Solo artists and bands across all genres, from any country. Both signed and unsigned artists can apply.
SXSW does not cover travel or accommodation, so factor these expenses into your plans before paying the application fee.
Format: Live showcase
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Festival dates: 15–21 March 2027
Application fee: US$80
Read the participation details and apply for a SXSW Music Festival showcase.
Before You Apply
A little preparation can save time and help you put together a clearer application.
Check Your Eligibility
Read the official guidelines before you start. Requirements may relate to location, residency, age, career stage or professional experience.
For programmes that involve meetings, workshops or travel, check that you can attend the required activities.
Prepare Your Supporting Materials
Have your music links, artist bio, CV and project description ready where requested. Choose examples of your work that are relevant to the opportunity, and check that every link opens correctly.
For grants, prepare a realistic budget showing what the funding would pay for.
Explain Your Project and Goals
Be specific about what you want to do and how the support would help.
For a residency, describe the recording or project you plan to work on. For mentorship, identify the questions or career decisions you would like guidance with.
Check Costs and Deadlines
Review any application fees, travel expenses or costs you would need to cover yourself.
Check the closing date and time zone, and leave enough time to upload your materials before the deadline.
Final Thoughts
Think about what would make a practical difference to your music right now. It might be time in a studio, a piece of equipment or advice on a project you have been planning.
Choose the opportunities that fit those needs and give yourself time to prepare your applications.
Keep an eye on the MPW blog for our next roundup of music jobs, grants and opportunities, and sign up for our newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox.
You can also browse our September roundup of music jobs, grants and artist development opportunities to explore other programmes and organisations.
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