European lyrics and lyric translations get a boost as BELEM announces that two major European artists have won grants from the programme’s first Open Call, as it also launches its second Open Call to the industry. The BELEM project (Boosting European Lyrics and their Entrepreneurial Monetization) aims to foster the licensing, aggregation, distribution, exhibition and translation of lyrics to increase the export and promotion of European lyrics and lyric translations.
According to BELEM, the easy availability of translations ‘significantly boosts the sustainability and exportability of European language songs for music publishers and songwriters, (labels and artists) and benefits the audience, leading to increased language diversity and understanding globally, with translated lyrics crossing (and breaking) borders, both in digital and virtual, as well as live, in-concert, formats. The lyrics and lyric translations for meaning will be distributed globally. Virtual and in-person live shows, alongside lyric videos and lyric translation videos, by European artists, will be produced with subtitles, singing in their native languages, or in a mixture of languages. Songs will be able to be understood by audiences in many languages in any country.’
In BELEM’s first grant, Hothouse Flowers member and singer-songwriter Fiachna Ó Braonáin has joined BELEM to translate his body of work, while Polish indie artist Misia Furtak has put forward her works to be translated.
Open to applications from artists and record labels from today (Wednesday, 10th January), BELEM is inviting artists and labels to submit applications for the recording of translated works. A total of 20 projects will be selected; 10 projects will be awarded in 2024 and the remaining 10 awarded in 2025. Once released, all co-produced tracks will be distributed globally, along with both the lyrics and their translations available in different languages. These works and the lyrics — including all translations — will be distributed through BELEM partners LyricFind, Deezer, .Music and other platforms.
Further information on BELEM and how to get a grant to translate lyrics can be found on their website here or on their Twitter and LinkedIn sites.
