Monkey Shoulder to empower grassroots music communities with N100m grant

Monkey Shoulder, the Single-Malt Scottish whisky brand, has joined hands with the globally recognised online radio station, Worldwide FM, and Gilles Peterson to introduce Studio Monkey Shoulder.

The initiative aims to empower grassroots music communities in Nigeria, the UK, US, Taiwan, and India with a grant worth N100 million in rewards and sponsorship.

Trailblazers across the country in the global music scene have been invited to participate in this initiative, giving them the capital to bring an original project to life. The Studio Monkey Shoulder winning applicants will receive invaluable support from Worldwide FM and Monkey Shoulder.

Speaking about the initiative, Ieuan Morgan, Global Manager for Monkey Shoulder, said: “Monkey Shoulder believes everything is better when diverse. That applies to our whisky as it also does to music that fosters creativity, variety, and innovation. Our ambition is to serve as a long-term supporter of grassroots music scenes. By partnering with Gilles and Worldwide FM, we look forward to unraveling new talents and telling their stories.

“This is exactly why I started Worldwide FM radio and there are so many other incredible community-driven projects out there I want to uncover, which is what excites us about Studio Monkey Shoulder. We have no idea where this is going to take us but can’t wait to see and hear it,” Gilles Peterson, DJ and broadcaster, said.

As the 100 percent malt whisky made for mixing, Monkey Shoulder is all about challenging conventions, this ethos is brought to life through the Studio Monkey Shoulder Initiative which promises to support those that challenge the norm and ultimately celebrate and share their stories with the world.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.