Last Thursday, Spotify’s London office buzzed with energy as it welcomed young people from selected grassroots youth organisations for Open Doors Day - a celebration of creativity, connection, and opportunity. 

The event marked a milestone in the ongoing partnership between Spotify and Youth Music through the Open Doors Fund. The initiative invests in youth spaces and the next generation of artists by providing essential resources to sustain spaces where young people gather, create, and engage in music and other forms of artistic expression, especially in underserved communities. 

The day began with a powerful moment in London’s Leicester Square, where attendees gathered to see the Open Doors Fund campaign billboard spotlighting Birmingham-based youth music project, Girl Grind UK, alongside multi-hyphenate artist Kojey Radical. The billboard, which showcases a candid moment during Kojey’s visit to Girl Grind, was met with cheers each time it lit up the iconic screen.

Back at Spotify’s office, we were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the space, including its state-of-the-art podcast and photography studios. The afternoon unfolded into three inspiring workshops: Grammy-nominated songwriter Carla Marie Williams MBE shared her journey and offered feedback on tracks submitted by attendees; award-winning rapper and Youth Music Co-Chair Guvna B led a songwriting session; and Spotify’s Safiya Lambie-Knight and Bryan M. Johnson hosted an honest and open Q&A on navigating the music industry. 

As the evening began, Youth Music NextGen Fund artist DJ Pebz set the tone with a DJ set. Guests then gathered for a panel discussion hosted by Spotify’s Equity, Diversity & Impact Lead, Kristin Jarrett, featuring Kojey Radical, Girl Grind UK founder Namywa, and participant Cola B, who shared their experiences within the music industries and hopes for the future. 

The day closed with unforgettable performances from Nat Oaks, another Youth Music NextGen artist, and Kojey Radical, who debuted his new track, “Conversations.”