Three content creators have been revealed as the recipients of the AWAL Creator Fund, launched in collaboration between global artist development company AWAL and the Lemontank agency.
Iona Bielby, Glenn McFarlane and Aker Okoye were among over 130 applicants to the scheme, which will offer them a support package and a £2,000 grant. The initiative aims to foster sustainable businesses that will support the resurgence of British music on the global stage.
The creators were selected after a nationwide open call for UK content creators with unique music concepts. The five-month programme will offer them the resources and insight needed to supercharge their content and develop their brand.
Their first public appearance together is at The Great Escape Conference in Brighton this Friday (May 15), where they will showcase their work and ideas to the music industry alongside AWAL and Lemontank.
The three chosen creators are:
– Iona Bielby, 29, London-based creator and host of the show Stargazer, where artists go stargazing in a homemade fort. Since launching in 2025, Stargazer has featured interviews with acts including Holly Humberstone, Sainté, Nxdia, Biig Piig and Lava La Rue, and built a social media following of over 40,000.
– Glenn McFarlane, 18, from Glasgow, whose channel Gigs With Glenn started in 2024 and has amassed more than 11,000 total followers. McFarlane has become known for the channel’s backstage interviews with bands and artists from the UK and Ireland, including James Marriott, Keo, The K’s and Westside Cowboy.
– Aker Okoye, 22, an actor and filmmaker from East London looking to develop an innovative new performance show.
Rebecca Barry, creator manager, AWAL said: "The quality and quantity of the applications proved just how much talent is out there in the UK creator community. After much consideration, we’ve selected a diverse group of creators who bring unique perspectives and genres to the table. We are so excited to support them during the next five months of their journey and cannot wait to see them develop.'
The quality and quantity of the applications proved just how much talent is out there in the UK creator community
Rebecca Barry
Jacob Rickard, founder and director of Lemontank, said: “British musicians are always seeking out new ways to get their music in front of new audiences, so this will be great news for the wider music industry. I’m so excited to be working with these three super-passionate young music fans, who all have tons of ambition and creative ways to introduce great music to the masses. We’re confident their ideas, ambition and determination will take them to great heights – so we’re honoured to be part of their journey!”
As part of the AWAL Creator Fund, the creators will receive:
– A £2,000 grant
– One-on-one mentoring with content and production specialists
– Learning and development sessions and networking opportunities
– The opportunity to work with AWAL artists and campaigns
In a model mirroring AWAL’s deals with recording artists, the creators will retain the ownership and creative control of their work.
As well as creative sessions, the programme focuses on providing ‘hard’ skills that support income generation, including budgeting, planning, and pitching – culminating in an end-of-programme ‘pitch to the industry’ event.
Creators will access training and support from a range of experts including long-term support from Rebecca Barry, AWAL creator manager, public relations with Sinead Mills from Practice Music, IP law from Arif Mahmud, general counsel AWAL, and production and format development with Jacob Rickard, Lemontank founder and former BBC Radio 1 producer. They will also receive one-to-one mentoring from content specialists at AWAL.
