Artist and author Jordan Stephens announced as Youth Music's first-ever Grassroots Hero

26 September 2024 - Press release

 

• Artist, author and actor Jordan Stephens has been named the winner of the brand-new award in recognition of his advocacy of grassroots music for young people. The award follows research from The Youth Music SONG Report that found that the grassroots music scene is in crisis
• The charity has also announced 41 Youth Music Award nominees across 11 categories, selected by an esteemed panel of industry experts including Eve, MNEK, Amelia Dimoldenberg and Gilles Peterson MBE
• The Youth Music Awards 2024, in association with Hal Leanord Europe, takes place on 16 October at Troxy, London

Youth Music, the UK’s leading young people’s music charity, has today revealed that artist and author Jordan Stephens will be crowned the winner of its first ever Grassroots Hero Award. 

The Grassroots Hero Award recognises an outstanding individual who has advocated for young people and supported the grassroots music scene. He will receive his award at the Youth Music Awards in association with Hal Leonard Europe on Wednesday 16^th October 2024 at Troxy, London. 

The Youth Music Awards celebrates the most forward-thinking projects and people making, learning and earning in music. From artists and entrepreneurs to grassroots projects and young leaders, the event recognises an exciting range of trailblazers from across the scene. 

 Best known as one half of the chart-topping duo Rizzle Kicks, Jordan Stephens has been rewarded for his advocacy efforts and for the backing of overlooked, underfunded and unrepresented projects in the grassroots music scene. Having been publicly open with his own struggles surrounding mental health, Jordan has been very active in creating awareness around the stigma. His mental health campaign #IAMWHOLE reached over 120 million people online and was mentioned in the Houses of Parliament. His children's book The Missing Piece was recently shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Prize. His new book Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs was released in August 2024 and went straight in as a Sunday Times Best Seller.  

Jordan Stephens says: “I am absolutely buzzing to receive this award from Youth Music. I love everything they stand for. They're one of my earliest supporters and I've done whatever I can to repay the favour. Love them. More support for the creative arts. More joy for Youth Music. Thank you so much.” 

The award follows recently published research in the Youth Music Sound of the Next Generation (SONG) Report, that found over half of grassroots music projects have reported a fall in income and Youth Music faces a 45% fall in real term donations. This means that the charity is only able to fund less than 1 in 5 applications (17%) – a historic low. As a result, the grassroots organisations that rely on this funding are at risk of closure, which would affect thousands of young people. 

Grassroots youth and community music projects play a vital role in supporting the diverse talent pipeline. In fact, the last two Mercury Prize winners were supported by projects like these, funded by Youth Music. So, in its 25^th year, Youth Music is celebrating the work that has been done to equalise access to making, learning, and earning in music, whilst campaigning for a more diverse and more inclusive industry.  

Here are some of the nominees in the running: 

Original Track Award (Group) sponsored by Marshall Amplification

Cov x Detroit - Come to This

Media Mania, Resonate, West Midlands 

“Come to This” is a collaboration between artists from Coventry and Detroit as part of the Coventry City of Culture Celebrations. Joe Beesley led the production, with the backing track crafted at Powerhouse Studios in Coventry. The Coventry-based project participants collaborated in the studio, exchanging ideas with Detroit for lyrics and input, going through several sessions over a few months before finalising the track. 

Lyricist Award sponsored by PRS for Music 

Noah Bouchard (he/him) – Dad’s Clothes
Youth Music NextGen Fund, Wales

Welsh hip-hop artist Noah Bouchard’s introspective lyrics focus on tales of vulnerability. His debut album ‘Love Of My Life’ (2024) explores themes of self-acceptance and forgiveness. “Dad’s Clothes” is one of the most personal songs on Noah’s album and details three generations of trauma and the way each processed it. 

Outstanding Project Award

Girls Rock London (GRL), London 

GRL’s mission is to amplify the voices of girls, women, and trans people through music-making and community-building. They facilitate youth-led music projects in which participants are supported to learn an instrument, form a band, as well as write, perform, and record their own original songs. GRL demystifies music-making, providing a safe and nurturing space for creativity and self-expression, building participants’ confidence and self-esteem through the joy and therapeutic powers of music. 

Social Action Award sponsored by Hal Leonard Europe 

CHARIS
Sounds at the Junction, South West

Sounds at the Junction brings music to asylum-seeking families in a Somerset hotel, helping children and young people who have faced severe trauma. Run by CHARIS and Live Music Now, the program offers lessons, band rehearsals, and songwriting, fostering confidence and community.  

Rising Star Award (Artist) sponsored by LCCM

Richard Carter (he/him)

Youth Music NextGen Fund, London

A producer/artist from South London, Richard Carter’s boundary-pushing music blends hip-hop, orchestral, pop, indie, and gospel. Influenced by artists like The Beatles and Joy Division, he’s performed sold-out shows and gone viral on social media with his song "Le Monde", which featured in the 2023 film ‘Talk to Me’.  

Speaking on the shortlist, Youth Music CEO, Matt Griffiths, says: “We are thrilled to see the diverse wealth  of talent and leaders shortlisted for this year’s awards. It’s  testament to the incredible grassroots music scene we have in the UK. A scene sadly facing a financial crisis, which could see crucial projects closing down nationwide if we don’t act now. We hope the Youth Music Awards once again shines a light on why these projects are so important.”  

Oliver Winstone Head of Business Development at Hal Leonard Europe says: “Hal Leonard Europe is proud to be the headline sponsor of the 2024 Youth Music Awards, celebrating the incredible talent and creativity of young musicians across the UK. Congratulations to all the nominees who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to grassroots music scene! At a time when the music industry faces many challenges, Youth Music's work in supporting such projects is more vital than ever. We are honoured to support them in their mission to create opportunities for the next generation of artists and help shape the future of music.” 

The 2024 Youth Music Awards will take place at Troxy, London, on Wednesday 16^th October. Full details can be found at https://youthmusic.org.uk/awards and on Youth Music’s Instagram, X and TikTok channels.