Link up music to ears of city independents
LICENSING giant PPL PRS has given its backing to an independent business which helps young people learn the art of making music.
The music licensing business is working with Leicester’s HQ CAN to expand the mentoring and support it offers.
HQ was set up by former Leicester Mercury Business Executive of the Year Yasin El Ashrafi to offer workshop, professional recording equipment and support to young people going through unemployment and mental health issues.
The support from PPL PRS – which is also based in Leicester – will ensure young people who enjoy creating music can continue to access all the facilities that are provided by the team at HQ.
The partnership will also see the pair work together on events such as Brew Beat, a beer and music festival planned for September in the city centre. On top of that, PPL PRS helps
HQ offer part-time roles to music creators along with studio time and visits from PPL PRS employees.
The licensing body, which collects revenues from businesses that play music for their staff and customers, will help HQ with funding bids and support events for musicians to learn how to make money from their music.
Yasin said: “I’m ecstatic to have formalised this partnership with HQ & PPL PRS.
“To be able to facilitate creatives into part-time work with flexible working hours is a game changer.
“This will help us to enable them to follow their dreams while earning a wage in a great environment which is also only a few minutes from our creative hub.
“We have a lot of exciting things planned and this is the start of something special for Leicester.”
PPL PRS managing director Andrea Gray said: “We have been following the HQ journey for the past few years, and the work that Yasin and his team do with the young people of Leicester is fantastic.
“Obviously, being able to offer some part-time roles to local young people, which also allows them time to continue making music, is a real reflection of some of our core
principles of collaboration and valuing music.
“We have a number of music artists working here at PPL PRS, and creating this partnership with HQ will be a great opportunity for them to access studio time and production facilities.”