Today, London-based community music organisation Create Define Release (CDR) has announced the launch of “Pay It Forward”, its first-ever public fundraising campaign.

The funds raised from the new initiative will support the national expansion of their youth programme, Music Producer Club (MPC), as well as the construction of a brand-new community music studio to help secure the organisation’s future in uncertain times.

Launching today, 25 March 2026, the campaign marks a significant new chapter in the 20-plus-year history of the collective. Supporters of the UK’s electronic music ecosystem are being invited to make one-time donations or ongoing monthly contributions to help the group remain independent, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of music-makers.

Founded in 2002, CDR has already reached over 20,000 artists and producers through a diverse programme of workshops, events, and development initiatives, creating a vital space for community-led learning.

Founder and CEO Tony Nwachukwu explained the necessity of the campaign, noting that while public funding has provided vital baseline support, it is no longer enough for their ambitions. “Public funding has helped us build stability and plan with greater confidence, but stability alone doesn’t allow our community to fully grow, adapt, or respond to the changing needs of the artists it aims to serve,” he said.

Reflecting on the overarching ethos of the organisation, Nwachukwu added: “From the beginning, CDR has been about creating the kind of environment I wished had existed when I was finding my way. One rooted in openness, care, and shared learning. This campaign is about ensuring that sense of possibility continues for the next generation.”

Framed around the concepts of stewardship and creative lineage, the campaign is calling on CDR’s extended network of artists and collaborators to invest in the next wave of talent.

“If CDR has ever meant something to you, whether you’ve learned here, shared here, or found community here, this is a chance to pay that forward for someone else,” Nwachukwu stated.

More information about the campaign is available at https://www.createdefinerelease.com/payitforward, and donations can be made directly at https://www.createdefinerelease.com/support-us.