Youth Music has launched a powerful new report revealing how Global Majority young people remain underrepresented in the UK music industry, despite their deep cultural connection to music.

•    Only 29% of Global Majority young people feel represented in industry leadership, despite deep cultural roots in music
•    Featuring voices from George the Poet, Dr Pauline Muir and emerging artists, Youth Music calls for urgent structural change
•    The long-read article can be viewed here: www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/born-music-locked-out-power

Just 29% of young people from Global Majority backgrounds feel represented in industry leadership compared to 53% of their White peers, highlighting a deep disconnect between the diversity of UK music culture and those who hold power behind the scenes. 

According to The Youth Music SONG Report, 77% of Global Majority parents say it’s important their children connect with music tied to their culture and heritage. This strong interest in music is also evident in the school environment. School children from the Global Majority are more likely to enjoy going to school than their White counterparts (70% v 56%) and express greater enjoyment of music lessons (61% vs 50%). However, they're less likely to feel that school makes music feel important (58% vs 64%), suggesting a disconnect between their enthusiasm for music and the value placed on it within the education system.

Despite this, over a third (36%) of early career starters from the Global Majority (aged 18-25) can imagine themselves in a music industry job within the next decade, higher than the 28% average. Yet, many have this ambition thwarted as they face exclusion from pathways to leadership. Just 22.1% of leadership roles are held by Black, Asian and ethnically diverse individuals.

Key insights from the report include:

• Young people are born into music, but shut out of opportunity – Global Majority youth grow up immersed in musical culture, yet face a disconnect between their creative passion and career prospects.
• Education fails to reflect their identities – A Eurocentric curriculum and cultural bias in schools leave young people feeling unseen and undervalued.
• Leadership remains unrepresentative – Young creatives say a lack of visible role models at senior levels impacts their confidence and aspirations.
• Systemic barriers block progression – From bias in music education to underfunded grassroots spaces, structural inequality is holding back the next generation.
• Offers clear pathways for change – Proposes tangible solutions, from investing in grassroots music spaces to increasing representation in leadership.

The piece features voices from across the sector, including artists, grassroots youth music leaders, academics and industry professionals. It also coincides with Youth Music’s £2 million Rescue the Roots fundraising campaign, which aims to sustain vital grassroots youth music spaces across the UK.

On the findings, Youth Music CEO, Matt Griffiths, said: