Youth Music calls for end of unpaid work in the music industry
Youth Music was awarded the Funding Champion Award at last night’s annual Living Wage Champion Awards in London, recognising its dedication to tackling low pay in the arts and culture sector. CEO Matt Griffiths spoke at the ceremony, calling on the music industry and other arts organisations to put an end to unpaid internships and low paid work.
In his speech, Matt Griffiths remarked that the music industry has long taken advantage of young people’s passion for music, expecting those keen on pursuing a career in the sector will work for free in the hope of securing a ‘dream job’. Youth Music’s recent Sound of the Next Generation research, conducted with Ipsos Mori, found 67% of young people make music, but feel a musical career is out of reach for financial reasons, particularly for those outside of London.
In its 20th anniversary year, Youth Music launches its new Youth Music Creatives programme, offering paid opportunities to current and former project participants so that they can financially support their own career development. The charity is keen for the music industry to get behind this programme so a career in music is accessible and sustainable for all.
Long committed to fair pay, Youth Music became the first Living Wage Funder in the arts and culture sector in 2017. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery via Arts Council England, Youth Music supports more than 350 music-making projects each year and encourages these to pay the Living Wage as well to become accredited Living Wage Employers.
Angela Linton, Youth Music’s Chief Operating Officer, says:
"As an organisation supporting young people’s lives in music, it is particularly important to us to ensure that our funding enables the workforce to be fairly paid. Unlike the government minimum wage, the real Living Wage applies equally to those under 25. Historically, the music industry has been rife with unpaid internships, and Youth Music calls for an end to these practices now."
Loz Kaye, Artistic Director of More Music, an organisation supported by Youth Music in Morecambe, says:
"At More Music we are proud that support from Youth Music has helped us become a Living Wage employer. This is a particularly important signal in a coastal town like Morecambe. Work in the music industry is dogged by low wages and insecurity. It’s vital that cultural organisations show leadership, we value the workforce and offer real opportunity."
Charlie Morrison, Head of Operations and Finance at Brighter Sound, an organisation supported by Youth Music in Manchester, says:
“Brighter Sound is a proud member of the Living Wage Foundation and believes strongly in its principles, which we apply to traineeships and apprenticeships as well as employees. As a key funder, Youth Music supports us to pay our workforce fairly - not only through their approach to funding, but also through encouragement and guidance.”
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, says:
“It’s a pleasure to award Youth Music a Funding Champion Living Wage Award. The organisation has continuously gone above and beyond to improve young people’s lives by creating opportunities paid at the Living Wage since becoming a Living Wage employer and Living Wage Funder. Youth Music has also undertaken fantastic work to encourage others in the music industry to follow their lead.”
The annual Living Wage Champion Awards celebrate notable employers that pay the Living Wage and last night’s awards were hosted by Martin Lewis at the Guildhall, London. Young musicians from Tomorrow's Warriors and You Press, projects supported by Youth Music in London, performed at the ceremony.The awards were sponsored by Aviva, Heathrow and City of London.
Photo by Peter Fadden, from Jack Drum Arts' Wear Making Music project.