Call for applications: Richard Antwi Scholarship in the UK

Founded in memory of British-Ghanaian music manager, lawyer and entrepreneur Richard Antwi, who passed away in 2016, the initiative seeks to support future music industry leaders from underrepresented communities who already hold an offer of a place on the Music Business Management MA course, which acts as a bridge between academic study, research and the professional world, at the University of Westminster.

This year, through funding from Universal Music UK, Universal Publishing UK, Sony Music UK and Sony Music Publishing UK, the award offers an additional ‘London Living Wage Stipend’ to cover the higher current cost of living and studying in London. This will include a bursary and stipend that totals £22 000 ($27 000), as well as mentorship and assistance with work placement.

 The 2023 scholarship pot is more than double the value of the 2022 scholarship, which was a bursary of £10 500. 

The scholarship’s industry champions include 0207 Def Jam co-president Alec Boateng and Sony Music UK director of Africa Taponeswa Mavunga.

“I’m really proud to still be supporting the Richard Antwi Scholarship, it continues to empower careers that are just beginning in the music business,” Boateng said.

“This year, it’s great to see an even bigger pot of funding available to support a young person studying in London at this time, and I’m really happy that Sony Music UK is among the funders,” Mavunga added. “It shows Richard [Antwi’s] influence and how much affection there is for him and what the scholarship represents.”

The first scholar was awarded in 2018 and 2023 will see the sixth scholar receive funding to continue Antwi’s incredible legacy of supporting and enabling young, exceptional talent, with sharp instincts and ambition to fulfil their potential and find their career pathway. 

Last year, the scholarship awarded a full bursary to Janelle Mitchell, a London-based DJ and emerging music executive at Believe. The year before, the scholarship went to scholars Shanice Edwards and Idris Green Holder. Other previous scholars include Jojo Mukeza and Esther Bokuma, as well as associate scholars Daniel Beckley and Isatta Sheriff.

“The Richard Antwi Scholarship helped to give me visibility within the music industry that would have been extremely hard to attain without years of experience,” Green Holder said. “Opening doors and giving me opportunities that have given my career a boost that is hard to measure for its impact on my life.”

Mitchell added that the scholarship has been “life-changing and I haven’t even finished the course yet. The amount of knowledge and networking opportunities that I have been exposed to have been so valuable to my development and I’m so excited to embark on the next chapter of my career once I graduate.”

Interested persons may complete an online application form here before 30 June 2023.