How We Open Music’s Doors to Everyone (Not Just the Rich)

From grassroots venues and youth music programs to Mercury Prize winners, early support shapes who gets to make music—and who doesn’t. But is access to music a right or a privilege?

Music should be for everyone - but is it becoming a luxury only the privileged can afford?

Episode one of season 3 of the DiS podcast, explores how Youth Music -a UK charity funding grassroots projects - is fighting to create fairer opportunities for young musicians facing financial, social, and industry barriers.

In this episode of the Drowned in Sound Podcast, Sean Adams speaks with Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music, about hidden inequalities in the music industry and the work being done to create opportunities for the next generation of musicians.

From youth-led projects and grassroots funding to the systemic barriers keeping working-class musicians out, this episode explores how music’s future can be more inclusive, diverse, and fair.

This episode also features Ezra Collective’s Mercury Prize-winning speech, where they credit their success to the support they received early on:

“This is not just Ezra Collective’s moment, this is a moment for every single organisation that’s championing young people making music.”

Read the full speech here:The Line of Best Fit

The Drowned in Sound Podcast maps the future of music and explores what's happening in the industry right now, with a strong moral compass. It connects music, culture, and ethics, offering deep dives into the issues shaping the way we create, consume, and sustain music.

Why This Matters:

Music has the power to change lives - but only if everyone has the chance to participate. Rising costs, funding cuts, and industry gatekeeping are making it harder than ever for working-class musicians to break through. In this episode, we explore what’s at stake, what’s changing, and how we can fight for a better future in music.

Topics Covered:

• Why music is increasingly a career for the privileged
• From youth projects to Mercury Prizes: why access matters
• How the industry is shutting out working-class talent
• The critical role of Youth Music in opening doors
• The funding crisis: why 25% of grassroots projects are at risk
• “It’s not a pipeline, it’s flight pathways” – how opportunity shapes careers
• What real change looks like - and how to make it happen

Further Reading:

• Youth Music – Find out more and get involved: https://youthmusic.org.uk/
• "I Will Forever Remain Faithful" Essay – Read more: Oxford American
• Drowned in Sound Newsletter – Subscribe for music insights: http://drownedinsound.org

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction: Is Music Becoming a Privilege?
• 01:15 Why Youth Music Exists & What It Does
• 04:30 How the Industry Is Failing Young Artists
• 07:50 What Happens When You Can’t Afford to Make Music?
• 11:10 From Youth Projects to the Mercury Prize – Success Stories
• 14:40 The Funding Crisis: What’s At Risk?
• 18:20 H