Trailblazing British media platform REPREZENT faces closure due to grassroots music crisis

14 February 2024 - Press release

Grassroots music in crisis as youth-led organisations, including trailblazing British media platform REPREZENT, face closure 

• REPREZENT Radio, credited with giving profile and support to hundreds of careers including Stormzy, Munya Chawawa, Jamz Supernova, Remi Burgz and Jeremiah Asiamah has turned to a crowdfunding campaign to raise vital funds to continue operating
• Youth Music, the UK’s leading young people’s music charity blames a lack of sustainable support from industry and a decade of government cuts as key issues facing grassroots music initiatives across the country 
• More than half of grassroots music projects reported a fall in donations or income in 2023, according to Youth Music 
• Donations in support can be made at the Crowdfunder page: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savereprezent

Youth Music the UK’s leading young people’s music charity, is shining a light on the funding crisis threatening grassroots music initiatives across the country as prominent youth-led community radio station, REPREZENT launches an emergency £50,000 crowd funding project to continue operating and broadcasting.  

The campaign, publicly backed by Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective and DJ Annie Mac, aims to raise vital cash to secure the future of the media platform, which broadcasts over 40 new presenters each week and puts hundreds of new artists in the spotlight every year. Media outlets such as BBC, Global, Channel 4 and Apple have reaped the benefits of REPREZENT’s training, securing scores of presenters from the station.  

A decade of government cuts to the youth development sector and the current cost-of-living crisis have put increasing pressure on the grassroots music scene, with local authorities spending 77% less on youth services – a £1bn decrease in real terms – which has led to the closure of hundreds of youth clubs and the loss of thousands of highly skilled youth work jobs.  As a result, organisations like REPREZENT are facing closure, making it harder than ever for young people to succeed within the music industry.  

Instrumental in supporting the development and careers of many artists and presenters today, including Stormzy, Jamz Supernova, and Munya Chawawa to name a few, REPREZENT has provided young people from all backgrounds with their first opportunities in the media and creative industries for more than twenty years, opening doors for a diverse generation of grassroots talent. 

The crowdfunding project, which is now live and designed to keep young people broadcasting, will allow the organisation to keep its doors open while it looks to make long-term changes behind the scenes to sustain the work it does in supporting up-and-coming artists, who will ultimately shape the future of youth culture and the music and media industries. 

Whilst REPREZENT is the latest potential casualty of the current crisis, it is just one of many projects providing critical services to the music industry that is under threat, as the significant cuts in the sector take their toll on the sustainability of grassroots work, putting the future of the British music scene itself under very real threat. Last year, 55% of Youth Music’s funded partners reported a fall in donations and income. 

Shane Carey, Founder and CEO of REPREZENT, comments, “Not only are we seeing a decline in funding, but at the same time, 63% of youth organisations are seeing increased demand for services, and 67% face increased operating costs. We’ve got a longer waitlist of applicants than ever before, with 2,500 young people from all backgrounds currently waiting for support to learn, create and grow within the music, media and creative industries. We don’t just want to raise funds to keep our doors open to them, we want to raise awareness of the threat that many organisations like ours are facing and encourage those who have the power to act, to act.” 

Matt Griffiths, CEO of Youth Music, added, “The concerning truth of the matter is that REPREZENT’s is not an isolated case – there is a real crisis facing grassroots music. Like so many of the diverse projects we support, they are doing amazing work to bring emerging young creatives into industry jobs, creating a pipeline of talent so that we can enjoy a more inclusive and progressive music scene. It’s so sad to see the impact of funding cuts play out and it’s important that people are aware of the impact this will have. We wouldn’t accept this lack of grassroots investment in other areas such as sport, and so we mustn’t accept it in music.”  

The “Save REPREZENT” crowdfunding page can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savereprezent and the money raised will fund:

• 10-week training programmes for new trainees, providing 16-25-year-olds with a deep dive into the world of Media and Radio Broadcast

• A Direct-to-Volunteering programme offering hands-on work experience and training to young people interested in the behind-the-scenes operations of a radio station
• On-air support for new presenters
• Airplay, guidance, and development support for new artists
• One-to-one mentorship for our most in-need beneficiaries