Feature

In 2019, more than sixty 18-25 year olds have benefited from paid freelance work as a result, with more than one thousand also enjoying access to industry expertise and job opportunities through our Youth Music NextGen community.

Find out what impact we’ve had so far, and what more we can do to help more young people make, learn and earn in music.

Reform Radio, Palm Bay Music and Young Guns Network have all previously been awarded a grant from the Incubator Fund. Find out how they used the funding to open up access to the music industries for all young people.

Ever wondered what it's like to work in the music industry? Introducing our new three-part YouTube series, Inside the music industry, a sit down with professionals working in the industry to discuss their jobs, and share advice for young people trying to get their foot in the door.

Learn more about the second round of organisations receiving grants from our Incubator Fund, designed to help open up access to sustainable careers in music for people aged 18-25, particularly those who are underrepresented in the music industries.

Nottingham based project Circle of Light took 2020 by storm with a new album, recorded and produced during lockdown. Hear from six of their participants about their time on the project.

Hainault based Singer-songwriter and Community Arts Practitioner Rosie Webb (21), discusses the music-making opportunities organisation Key Changes provided for her during the pandemic and the impact of music on mental health.

We spoke to Brighton Dome about why the real Living Wage is important in ensuring greater inclusivity in access to the music industry.

Learn more about the first round of organisations receiving grants from our Incubator Fund, designed to help open up access to sustainable careers in music for people aged 18-25, particularly those who are underrepresented; and to support creative employers to innovate and incubate new and diverse talent.

Produced and presented by the next generation of creators across the UK, Youth Music’s original podcast, The Higher Frequency, delves into the social and political issues behind the music you love. This six-part series features special guests GIRLI, Zoka the Author, [K S R], Lavs, Estee Blu, Nadia Khan, VITAL and more.

Andrew Miller discusses Youth Music’s new report, Reshape Music, which highlights issues around accessibility for Disabled musicians within the music industries - a problem which has never been more pressing.

In October 2019 we celebrated the first ever Youth Music Awards in association with Hal Leonard Europe. One year later, we caught up with some of the winners to find out what they've been up to.

In June 2020, we hosted two online focus group discussions with young musicians (aged 18-25) at various stages of their musical careers. This report explores some of the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic has impacted on the lives and careers of these seven young musicians.

Jungle's Tom McFarland talks live shows and lockdown, power and privilege in the music industry and more in this interview with Youth Music Next Gen Journalist Lily Fontaine.

"Before the pandemic, we were already living in a world whose heart beat through the pages of social media and now that we are forced to predominantly communicate this way, we’ve realised how stagnant this can be."

Katie spoke to various industry players to find out what they’ve been listening to in order to stay switched on and inspired during lockdown.

Take Note in collaboration with Youth Music and LWE brings you a new week long series of daily interviews from Monday 6 July at 5pm with Emerald Rose, Keep Hush, Gerald Sagoe, Reprezent Radio and UKF.

Live in Lockdown is a series of interviews with young DJs and producers about their experiences getting into DJing, how their careers and creativity has been affected by lockdown and their advice for new DJs. 

"Sometimes it takes a lot of guts as an artist to say, ‘I want to do what I feel’, as opposed to what might feel safe in the market." - Lorna Blackwood.

Youth Music has partnered with PRS Foundation to support their nationwide Talent Development Partner programme. Ellie, a member of Next Gen interviewed Spike Griffiths, Project Director of Forté Project, to find out more about how the project is supporting young musicians in South Wales.

As part of Commission Mission, Jumi Akinfenwa Senior Music Supervisor & Cultural Curator at Pitch & Sync discusses with her peers the lack of diversity in music supervision.

As part of Commission Mission, Founder of Alcopop! Records Jack Clothier writes about the importance of community when you work in music.

Electronic duo Bicep share their tips on a long career in music production, ahead of Youth Music and Charanga's new competition for electronic music tracks produced on VIP Studio Sessions.

As President of Straight Forward Music Group, Dani Stephenson has been working in the music industry for over 15 years, working with artists such as Anne-Marie, Drake, and P Diddy. In an interview with Youth Music, Dani shares his personal journey and the insights he has gained from his experiences.

Long-time live music fan Deseree shares her thoughts on the future of the live music event scene.

We asked Clara, a part of Youth Music Next Gen, to share how the UK-wide lockdown has affected her work. Watch the video here.

We spoke to young creatives who worked in roles at the Youth Music Awards 2019 about what it meant to them to get paid for their work.

Taz is a 17-year-old rapper from Cambridge. Over the last three years she’s taken part in a number of music-making projects run by local youth charity Romsey Mill.

Chi, 21, is a beatmaker and music producer from Oxford. The Beat Route project, run by the Ark T Centre, has helped him learn new skills and work out a direction for his future.