Adele producer: Poor children have ‘no hope’ of breaking into music industry

Britain risks losing the next potential Paul McCartney or David Bowie because it is too expensive for many children to get a foothold in the music industry, a superstar record producer has warned.

Paul Epworth, who has worked with stars such as Adele, Rihanna and McCartney, said youngsters without either financial backing or existing connections in the industry are being excluded from a career in music.

He has now thrown his weight behind a new two-year diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship for students aged 19 years and over launched this week by the Ivors Academy.

The diploma will offer means-tested bursaries for students from modest and underprivileged backgrounds and few formal qualifications to study all aspects of the industry, including music, technology and culture; live music; personal development; entrepreneurship and branding.

Mr Epworth, who won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘Skyfall’, along with seven Grammys, and will be a tutor and mentor on the diploma, told The Telegraph: “Without this we risk losing another Paul McCartney or David Bowie and their massive contribution to British and world culture.”

He added: “Because of cuts in funding, youth club closures, venues closing and growing hardship it’s getting harder and harder to get into the creative industries unless you already know somebody who can advise you or offer you an internship.

“If you’re a kid from an underprivileged background without those links you’ve got no hope of fulfilling your dreams of a job in music.”

Programme will teach children skills

Students accepted onto the diploma, called TheWRD, will learn online and in person, giving them the skills needed to carry on in education, start a career in music – whether in front of or behind the microphone – or in another industry.

Tutors and mentors will include top music artists, publishers, producers, composers, technicians, marketeers, business executives, lawyers, accountants, graphic designers, publicists and agents.

Also backing the project is Ellie Best, RCA Records Promotion Manager, who said: “If we want the country’s music industry to grow and flourish, we need innovation in our education system to increase the skills base and improve access for future generations.

“TheWRD offers just that, targeting young people that are disengaged from their education, and offering them a path that inspires and galvanises them.”

Prospective students, who do not need A or AS levels, will be able to apply for an Ivors Academy bursary for the £4,999 cost of the diploma, or apply for a student loan which would be written off if they continue on to higher education.

Studies have found that a growing number of acts in the music charts have attended fee paying schools compared to earlier decades.

Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy said: “Many young people can’t access state-funded arts education, careers in the creative industries or a creative life. We believe that everyone, everywhere with the desire and talent should have the chance to start and establish a career in music.

“It is essential that we create new opportunities to support the next generation of music industry professionals and music creators.”