Breaking into the music industry has never been easy and for many young creatives, the barriers to getting started can feel impossible to overcome. That’s where Youth Music’s NextGen Fund comes in, providing direct funding and tailored support to help emerging artists thrive.

Not only does the NextGen Fund give young artists a foothold, it can also be the launchpad for major success and industry recognition. We’ve seen our artists win Youth Music Awards one year, and pick up Mercury Prizes and MOBO’s the next.

We’re proud that so many artists supported by Youth Music are now being recognised across the industry.  They are shaping the future of UK music and making it more diverse and exciting.

We couldn’t bring these ideas to life without the vital funding we receive from music rights champion PPL, and our other supporters. To date, we have invested in 430 young creatives from across the UK, helping to unlock potential, amplify new voices, and build a more inclusive music industry.

Sam Fender

North Shields singer-songwriter Sam Fender won the BRIT Award for Best Alternative/Rock Act in 2022 and has become one of the UK’s biggest contemporary artists.

Sam came through Generator, a Youth Music-funded project supporting emerging talent in the North East. Since then, he has released multiple chart-topping albums, headlined major festivals and performed at sold-out arena tours across the UK.

sam fender holds a microphone stand and looks to the left

Ezra Collective

London jazz quintet Ezra Collective won the 2023 Mercury Prize for Album Of The Year, becoming the first jazz act to receive the award.

Their journey with Youth Music began through Tomorrow’s Warriors, a Youth Music-funded project supporting young jazz talent, where they developed their sound. Since then, the band have become one of the most exciting live acts in the UK, blending jazz, afrobeat and hip-hop influences.

Ezra Collective band members wearing white/cream tops on a blue staircase and staring at the camera with no expression

English Teacher

The Leeds quartet won the 2024 Mercury Prize for Album Of The Year.

English Teacher’s journey with Youth Music began in 2019, when they took part in mentoring through the Youth Music-funded project Music:Leeds. In 2022, they picked up the Rising Star Award (Artist) at the Youth Music Awards and in 2025 they won the Grassroots Hero Award.

The band have since played major festivals including Glastonbury, End of the Road and Green Man, alongside sold-out headline shows across the UK.

English Teacher band

ALT BLK ERA

Nottingham sisters Nyrobi and Chaya who formed ALT BLK ERA won Best Alternative Music Act at the MOBO Awards 2025.

Nyrobi was received NextGen Funding from Youth Music. Since then, they formed ALT BLK ERA and released their debut album Rave Immortal in 2025, which reached number 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.

nyrobi and chaya from alt blk era

JAYAHADADREAM

Rapper JayaHadADream was nominated for this year’s MOBO Awards for Best Grime Act. 

Jaya was one of our Ones To Watch for 2024 and the following year picked up two Youth Music Awards: Rising Star Award (Artist) and Lyricist Award. That wasn’t her only award win, either. Jaya was voted best Breakthrough MC/Vocalist at the DJ Mag Best of British Awards 2025.

Jaya also played an impressive six sets at Glastonbury Festival (her second time at Glastonbury) as well as Boomtown and her own UK headline tour. 

See Jaya talk about how crucial NextGen Funding was for her career.

a woman with braids wears a dark puffer jacket