Townsend wants to help artists launch careers via its Making Music platform.

While acts with fanbases such as Gary Numan, James and Shed Seven have utilised the funding option, Townsend is now opening it up to debut artists, including Bloxx and Jamie Webster.

“There’s so much scope for the breakthrough artists coming on there, as long as it’s done judiciously with the right act at the right time,” said head of digital Paul "Barney" Barnes. “We’ll monetise certain things, while ...