How to Empower Music’s Next Generation - DiSpatch from the Youth Music Awards

With 41% of grassroots community music spaces at risk of closure due to financial pressures, what does the future hold for young musicians trying to break through? And what role can the wider industry and everyday fans play in keeping these vital pathways alive?

In this special DiSpatch episode of the Drowned in Sound podcast, Emma Wilkes heads to Troxy in London for Youth Music's annual awards ceremony, which celebrates some of the stars of tomorrow and the grassroots projects behind them. Youth Music is the UK’s largest music charity, providing funding for hundreds of grassroots music organisations and supporting over 100,000 children and young people every year up and down the UK. Their work has never felt so urgent.

Through conversations with industry leaders, grassroots organisers, and emerging artists, this episode explores what equal access to music looks like, the vital importance of grassroots opportunities for young people, and what music fans can actually do to help. From major label perspectives to Cambridge's rising rap talent, we hear how the music industry can and must support the next generation.

Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Who are Youth Music?

01:50 – Charlotte Edgeworth (Sony Music) on the industry’s role in supporting grassroots music.

05:50 – Dan Tsu (Lyrix Organix) on money vs creativity and mapping pathways for young people.

09:40 – Matt Griffiths (CEO, Youth Music) on meeting young people where they're at.

14:00 – Sister Bliss (Faithless) on giving every young person the opportunity to create. 

17:50 - Dan Tsu (Lyrix Organix) on creating spaces for young people

23:50 – Sister Bliss (Faithless) on what we can do next

28:50 – What comes next? A grassroots funding crisis, and what music fans can do to help.

30:50 – JayaHadADream on Youth Music's impact on her life and career.

32:20 – Resources, Rescue the Roots, and Youth Music’s call to action.

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Links & Resources:

• DiS Podcast: Matt Griffiths in conversation with Sean Adams
• Youth Music Official Website
• Youth Music’s Rescue the Roots Campaign
• Youth Music’s Industry Connect Programme
• Lyrix Organix Official Website
• JayaHadADream Official Website

Cover photo by Jack Oliver.