WIREDGOV

From today (Monday 7th April), any young person aged between 14 and 24 hoping to carve out a career in the music industry will have the opportunity to transform their dreams into a reality, as The Big Music Project launches nationwide 

Two of the biggest names in UK music – Global Radio’s Capital FM and the BPI who own the iconic BRITs brand - have joined forces with youth work charity UK Youth, to help youngsters from every corner of the UK get the transferable skills they need to take a step closer to a brighter future. The Big Music Project is supported by a £4million grant from The Big Lottery Fund.

Youngsters visiting www.thebigmusicproject.co.uk today will find:

• Careers inspiration from some of the biggest names in music including Ellie Goulding, Enrique Iglesias, Example, Katy B and 5 Seconds of Summer
• Practical help and advice from people working in industries allied to music, on taking that ‘next step’
• Details of The Big Music Project Live events – powered by Music Matters - taking place in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and London this Autumn
• A preview of The Big Music Project Competition – powered by the Next BRIT Thing – a national music performance competition open to all genres and supported by hundreds of industry insiders
• News from some of the 100 youth club “hubs” where thousands of young Big Music Project “Champions” are already starting to do great things with music in their communities
• The On Track industry experience portal which will see thousands of young people find out about internships and work experience in creative industries.

Artists including Plan B, MNEK, Chase & Status and Capital’s Marvin Humes and Pandora support the Big Music Project. The scheme aims to build confidence, create real career opportunities, and secure positive outcomes and futures using the power of music. With the reach of the BRIT Awards and the power of Capital behind the project, around 4.5 million 14-24 year olds are set to hear about the project, with tens of thousands expected to benefit.

Peter Ainsworth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said:
“The Big Music Project is all about inspiring young people across the UK to fulfil their potential and achieve their personal goals. It is about giving them opportunities to learn some new transferable skills that could help them excel in the world of work, whether they choose a career in the music industry or decide to try something else.  It is just one of a number of initiatives The Big Lottery Fund is backing that aim to empower young people to shape their own futures and to play an active role in their communities.”

Notes to editors

Strands of The Big Music Project

1. A major media campaign driven by Capital FM to reach in excess of 4,500,000 young people through radio, social media and online activity. This will promote participation in the rest of the project. 
2. Four national The Big Music Project events (brought to you by Music Matters) that will attract over 1,000 young people each through major artist performances. These events will promote opportunities to engage with the music industry, sign up to our music competition and explore our work opportunities programme. 
3. A nationwide music competition called The Big Music Project Competition (powered by The Next Brit Thing) which develops talent, introduces young people to the inner workings of the music industry and signposts local music-related development opportunities. 
4. A work opportunities programme called ‘On Track’ offering in excess of 250 placements, ranging from the short term to year-long paid internships across the music industry and beyond. 
5. A grassroots training and development programme delivered through 100 youth clubs reaching in the region of 25,000 young people. We will recruit 1,000 project champions to learn about community cohesion, citizenship and employability, with music as the unifying theme. These champions will go on to peer educate a further 10,000 young people. 
6. A major campaign website integrating existing social media platforms, providing downloadable resources and upload functionality for young people to showcase their creative skills.

Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.  The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.  The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

Project Partners
Global is one of Europe's fastest growing music and entertainment companies.  Its radio stations include the UK's three biggest commercial radio brands – Capital, Heart and Classic FM.

The BPI is the representative voice of the UK recorded music business. It is a trade organisation funded by its members. The BPI also organises the annual BRIT Awards show and The Classic BRITs.

UK Youth is a national charity at the heart of a network of organisations that support young people to learn, grow and succeed. It develops and promotes learning opportunities beyond mainstream school and through regional youth associations and local groups reaches 690,000 young people each year.

www.thebigmusicproject.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/BigMusicUK        
http://www.facebook.com/bigmusicUK
#BigMusic

For further information on The Big Music Project please contact:

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 
020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 
07867 500 572
 Lynne McDowell
Lynne.McDowell@bpi.co.uk
07763 619709
 Sophie Randles
Sophie.randles@capitalfm.com
020 7054 8388