​Reprezent Radio launches emergency crowdfunder to secure its future

Reprezent Radio is asking for help to secure its future amidst a “grassroots music crisis” with the launch of a crowdfund campaign.

The station currently faces potential closure, citing increased operational costs and a slowing pace of government funding in the youth development sector.

The youth-led radio station hopes to raise £50,000 toward training and nurturing new talent and now looks to become a registered charity to continue operating. The campaign has so far been backed by the likes of Ezra Collective and Annie Mac.

“A decade of cuts to the youth development sector has meant local authorities are spending 77% less on youth services,” reads the crowdfunder.

“That’s a £1bn decrease in real terms, which has led to the closure of hundreds of youth clubs and the loss of thousands of highly skilled youth work jobs.”

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Reprezent also added that its list of applicants awaiting support currently stands at 2,500, which continues to increase each week without additional funding.

“The cost of delivering our training is at an all-time high, while income availability is at an all-time low,” they write. “We pay the bills with grants, donations, sponsorship and broadcast commissions, but post-pandemic these are becoming harder and harder to obtain.”

First launched in 2011, Reprezent is thought to have catapulted the careers of artists including Stormzy, Jamz Supernova, Munya Chawawa, and more over the years, broadcasting 40 new presenters each week.

The station is credited to have supported hundreds of careers and established up-and-coming artists and presenters across the UK from different backgrounds.

Reprezent founder and CEO Shane Carey writes: “Not only are we seeing a decline in funding, but at the same time, 63% of youth organisations are seeing increased demand for services, and 67% face increased operating costs.”

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“We don’t just want to raise funds to keep our doors open, we want to raise awareness of the threat that many organisations like ours are facing and encourage those who have the power to act, to act,” he adds.

The crowdfunder is also supported by Youth Music, a national charity investing in music projects. CEO Matt Griffiths explains: “The concerning truth of the matter is that Reprezent is not an isolated case – there is a real crisis facing grassroots music."

"Like so many of the diverse projects we support, they are doing amazing work to bring emerging young creatives into industry jobs, creating a pipeline of talent so that we can enjoy a more inclusive and progressive music scene," he adds.

"It’s so sad to see the impact of funding cuts play out and it’s important that people are aware of the impact this will have. We wouldn’t accept this lack of grassroots investment in other areas such as sport, and so we mustn’t accept it in music.”

Support Reprezent's crowdfunder here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter