Youth Music

08/06/2026

Some of the most exciting work in music and creativity is happening with the under-5s!

Through our Energiser Fund, we're supporting organisations doing some of the most ambitious, joyful, child-centred work we've ever seen.

We've pulled it all together in our brand new Early Years Hub. Find inspiration, research, and best practice for anyone working with young children.

Come explore 👇
https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/resources/early-years-hub

04/06/2026

"Each song came from a different moment in my life, they all kept circling around the same feelings - uncertainty, transition, movement, identity and figuring myself out. Once I noticed that connection, it stopped feeling like random singles and started feeling like one bigger story."

Cardiff artist AIIME C discusses her debut EP 'Up in the Air', blending drum & bass and electronic pop, and how Youth Music’s NextGen Fund helped bring the project to life.

Read the full interview: https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/case-study/nextgen-spotlight-aiime-c

04/06/2026

Great to see Sam Fender spotlighted in this piece. We’re incredibly grateful for his support 💙

Through his recent tour, Sam raised £50,000 for Youth Music, helping fund grassroots projects for young people.

Read more via Far Out Magazine:

Lindsey Buckingham is a huge fan of Sam Fender, praising the star's use of emotive tone, lyricism, and the Fleetwood Mac influence in his sound.

02/06/2026

From sensory sessions for babies and their grown-ups to festival celebrations, early years music practice and DIY publishing workshops, our Energiser Fund partners are creating inspiring opportunities for children and young people to explore, make and connect.

These highlights offer just a glimpse of how funded partners are building joyful, creative experiences in their communities.

This month, we’re sharing updates from Take Art, The Spark Arts for Children The Herd Theatre The Whitworth and more

click the link https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/funding/energiser-fund
to find out more about the Energiser Fund.

01/06/2026

New research from our partners at Roundhouse highlights a worrying reality: too many young people feel disconnected, isolated and locked out of creativity.

When young people do get the chance to take part in music, the impact is huge - building confidence, wellbeing and connection. In fact, our SONG report found that 70% of young people say music helps them feel connected to others.

Through Youth Music-funded projects like Roundhouse, we see what happens when those barriers are removed. And our NextGen Community helps young creatives access funding, opportunities and the networks they need to build careers in music: https://bit.ly/4nWcYNH

Read more via The Guardian: https://bit.ly/49vJbql

Research for Roundhouse in London shows 87% of 18- to 30-year-olds believe they have fewer artistic opportunities

01/06/2026

"Music enables LGBTQIA+ youth to explore the feelings that we don’t know how to put into words."

This , learn about the power music can have for young people discovering their identity.

Youth Music NextGen writer, David Simkins, examines the importance of q***r representation and identification in music for young people.

27/05/2026

Announcing the four organisations receiving support through our new partnership with Beatport, championing the next generation of electronic music makers 🎶

Together, we’re investing £60,000 into grassroots electronic music projects across the UK, with four organisations each receiving £15,000. The funding will help young DJs, producers and creatives from underserved communities access the opportunities they need to thrive in music.

Meet the recipients: https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/meet-recipients-beatport-funding

26/05/2026

At our Energiser Fund event in Corby, organised by Groundswell Arts, practitioners from 11 organisations came together to explore co-creation, movement and early years creativity.

Highlights included practical sessions from Turned On Its Head and research shared by Pen Green Research Base, showing how movement can support expression, development and connection in young children.



Want to know more? https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/energiser-fund-brings-early-years-practitioners-together

26/05/2026

More Than Just A Van is a powerful film and soundtrack created by artist George Bloomfield Music, and supported by Youth Music through the NextGen Fund.

The project, out now, explores George’s grief after losing his best friend and collaborator, Ed. The film follows George as he travels in the vintage campervan Ed had been living in - shipped back from Australia after his death - to meet Ed’s family and open up conversations around grief, all soundtracked by George’s original music.

“Lewis and I both felt grief can seem like such a taboo subject, so we wanted to open up those conversations in a creative way,” George said.

Watch the full film below.
Listen to the soundtrack here: https://bit.ly/4wQq3xg

23/05/2026

Talking about the future of music 💬

Our panel brought together artists and industry voices to share honest insights on building careers, breaking down barriers and what better support could look like for emerging talent.

Big thanks to panellists .agent, Natalie , and .agb.

See more photos and read more about what the panel had to say - link in bio.

Images by Youth Music NextGen Fund Photographer ._