Little Simz went from releasing mixtapes in her bedroom to winning major music awards – all without a major label. Her story shows how strategic funding empowered an independent artist to reach global audiences on her own terms.

Intro

Little Simz is a Mercury Prize-winning rapper and actor who built a worldwide fanbase while staying proudly independent (PRS Foundation, 2025). In an industry where many artists feel pressured to sign with big labels, Simz charted a different path. How did she do it? By combining relentless talent with timely support from music funding programs. In this inspiring case study, we’ll see how grants and showcase opportunities helped Little Simz overcome early challenges and turn DIY hustle into international triumph.

“As an independent artist and label owner the (PPL) Momentum Music Fund is a major helping hand for myself and my team… funding like this is a huge part of making the journey to the end goal possible.” (PRS Foundation, 2025)

Background & Challenge

Little Simz (real name Simbiatu Ajikawo) grew up in North London and began releasing music in her teens. Early on, she gained buzz – even JAY-Z’s blog featured her mixtape in 2013 – and major labels took notice. But Simz was determined to maintain creative control. She boldly turned down record deal offers and instead founded her own independent label, AGE: 101 Music, to release her work (PRS Foundation, 2025). By 21, she had put out multiple EPs and mixtapes on her own.

This independence came with challenges. Without a label’s financing, Simz had to find resources to produce high-quality recordings, music videos, and tours. She was a young, up-and-coming artist with big ambitions – how could she reach a global audience without the backing of a big record company? This is where outside support became crucial.

Funding Support

PRS Foundation’s grants provided the boost Little Simz needed at pivotal moments. In 2014, Simz received an International Showcase Fund (ISF) grant – funding that helps emerging artists perform at global music industry events. This allowed her to showcase at Canadian Music Week, marking her first steps into the North American music scene (PPL UK, 2015). Performing at an international festival gave Simz exposure to new audiences and industry contacts beyond the UK.

The following year, she secured the PPL Momentum Music Fund grant (managed by PRS Foundation). Momentum funding offers £5,000–£15,000 grants to help talented artists record and promote their music (PRS Foundation, 2017). For Little Simz, this grant covered the mastering, marketing and a UK tour for her debut album – all the key elements needed to launch the record successfully (PRS Foundation, 2015). Importantly, it meant she could release A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015) on her own label without compromising her artistic vision  (PPL UK, 2015).

PRS Foundation and BBC Music Introducing also supported Little Simz through special showcase opportunities. This meant she was featured in high-profile live events and broadcasts that put her in front of broader audiences (PRS Foundation, 2017). These showcases – from festival stages to radio sessions – helped build buzz around her music at home and abroad. By combining funding with performance platforms, Simz and her team created momentum (no pun intended) at a critical early stage of her career.

Impact

The impact of these supports was dramatic. Little Simz’s debut album, released independently in 2015, entered the UK R&B Albums Chart at #20 and later won Independent Album of the Year at the AIM Awards 2016. She also snagged Breakthrough Artist of the Year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards and earned nominations for a BET Award and MOBO Awards – clear signs that she was on a fast-rising trajectory. With PRS Foundation’s help, she had proven that an unsigned British artist could not only fund an album but also make a splash doing it.

Crucially, the funding enabled Little Simz to tour North America early in her career, turning industry heads overseas (PRS Foundation, 2017). She returned for multiple U.S. and Canada tours and even opened for Lauryn Hill – experiences that expanded her craft and fanbase. Back home, she kept up the momentum with a second album in 2016, then the critically acclaimed Grey Area in 2019 (which was Mercury Prize-shortlisted). Her 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert was hailed as the year’s best by multiple publications and went on to win the 2022 Mercury Prize, one of the UK’s highest music honors. That same project earned Simz a Brit Award, cementing her status as a mainstream success – all while she remained an independent artist (PRS Foundation, 2017).

Today, Little Simz’s journey is a testament to what can happen when talent meets opportunity. By leveraging grants and showcases, she scaled her career without signing a 360 deal or diluting her vision. She has inspired a new generation of UK artists by proving you can make an impact globally on your own terms.

Lessons for Other Creatives

• Invest in yourself with help from others: Don’t be afraid to seek funding. Little Simz used grants to finance production, videos and tours – investments that paid off in audience growth and industry recognition. Funding can amplify your hard work. 
• Maintain your artistic independence: If retaining creative control is important to you, look for support that respects that. Simz showed that with the right backing, you can release music on your own label and still achieve mainstream success. 
• Use showcase opportunities to build networks: Playing international showcases and industry festivals gave Simz new fans and connections early on. Programs like ISF exist to help you access these events – they can be career-changing stepping stones. 
• Build a trusted team around you: Being independent doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Little Simz benefited from funding “for myself and my team” – highlighting that having the right people (managers, collaborators, mentors) is key to maximizing any funding you get. 

Get involved!

Little Simz’s story shows that strategic funding can transform a creative career. Could yours be next? GrantFunderUK offers free resources to help you navigate UK funding opportunities – from guides on writing grant applications to directories of programs like the ones in this story. Visit GrantFunderUK to learn how you can fund your artistic vision, and take the next step towards your own success story. Empower your creativity with the support it deserves!