REVIEWS
Forging a New Circuit: The Musically Unorthodox Conference 2025
In an age where digital technology has expanded the range of creative careers there are still no tangible pathways from education to the music and in some cases the wider creative industries. Access remains heavily gated by finances, networks, and privilege. For young people excluded from mainstream society and education, the odds are stacked even higher, breaking into the industry becomes nearly impossible, too often left to chance rather than opportunity.
In May 2025, a powerful collective gathered in Northampton to push back against this reality. The Musically Unorthodox Conference, hosted by In Music In Media and funded by Youth Music served as a catalytic platform to tackle a critical gap in the development cycle: enabling marginalised young people to build sustainable futures through their passion for music and media.
The conference brought together a unique blend of stakeholders from grassroots youth workers and event promoters to national industry bodies, educators, police violence prevention units, and employment specialists, all united by a single mission: to join the dots and build a robust, inclusive eco-system for future talent.
The Core Challenge: A System Designed for Exclusion
The conference opened with a clear-eyed diagnosis of the problem. Daniel ‘HD’ Johnson laid out the stark reality for young people who fall out of mainstream education and become NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). These individuals face a perfect storm of exclusion:
- The Qualification Barrier: A lack of formal qualifications immediately slams doors shut on countless opportunities.
- The Experience Trap: Limited access leads to no industry experience, which in turn excludes them from roles requiring it.
- The Self-Taught Struggle: Specialist skills like DJing, rapping, and event promotion are often self-taught, lacking the professional framework and validation needed to be recognised as legitimate expertise.
- The Network Vacuum: Social exclusion means their personal networks rarely include people who can provide introductions or “bring-ins” to the industry.
- The Information Gap: Opportunities are not designed to reach them, leaving them unaware of potential pathways.
These key factors were reinforced by hard hitting presentations from Olivia Dams (Youth Employment UK) and Rachel Long (Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership). Â
Olivia presented a sobering overview of the youth unemployment landscape, then Rachel connected these issues directly to community safety and well-being, establishing a shared understanding of the urgent need for alternative pathways.
As Chris Cook of the Pathways Into Music Foundation framed it, the central question of the day was:
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“How can we encourage and facilitate the process to use music and music making to build communities and create opportunities? And when it does happen, how can we ensure that the people involved fairly benefit from what they have created?”
The Power of Lived Experience and Organic Ecosystems
The conference highlighted that the solution is already growing organically within communities. The journey of Daniel ‘HD’ Johnson, showcased in a powerful video, is a testament to this. His success, from running a reggae sound system to becoming a university lecturer and founding a social enterprise, was built on the “unconventional educational and career pathway” forged through music. His organisation, In Music In Media, and its Musically Unorthodox Project, formalises this process, working directly with NEETs, young offenders, and excluded students.
This theme was echoed by local practitioners on the “Local Dimension” panel. Event promoters like Dreadz (Dready Jamz) and Leon Denton (Lay It Down) are not just providing stages; they are creating community hubs that offer informal mentoring, collaboration, and crucial advice on everything from streaming royalties to mental wellbeing.
Anton Noble (Guiding Young Minds), who works with high-risk individuals involved in violence, emphasised that music builds transferable skills in confidence, communication, and self-expression that are valuable in any career. Connor Osborne (BBC Introducing) highlighted the vital role of platforms like his in giving local talent a launchpad to national radio and festivals, but stressed the need for more proactive outreach and mentorship to demystify the process.
Scaling Up: National Perspectives and Systemic Solutions
The “National Dimension” panel brought insights from those working across the UK, reinforcing the need for scalable, validated alternatives to formal education.
Maxwell D (Music Through The Bars), a legendary Grime MC turned youth mentor, shared his journey from being an industry pioneer who “didn’t know about contracts” to running workshops that teach young people the business of music, from trademarks to mental resilience. His message was clear: “The knowledge is power.”
Biggoss (Syncd:in), a DJ and music publisher from Birmingham, highlighted the critical gaps in knowledge around radio plugging and music publishing, noting that many artists from underrepresented backgrounds “leave a lot of money on the table.”
The discussion turned systemic with Denise Stanley of (CLOCK), which offers a groundbreaking framework for validating non-formal learning. She argued that the industry runs on collaboration, while formal education focuses on the individual. CLOCK provides the crucial “qualification without the classroom,” allowing experienced practitioners to gain accredited certifications for their skills, thereby breaking down a major barrier to employment.
Lyle Bignon (NTE Ambassador), a music and night-time economy consultant, presented his work in Birmingham, creating industry placement frameworks that operate alongside, but independently of, universities. His model empowers students by treating placements as real jobs, fostering cross-disciplinary understanding that traditional courses often miss.
Tackling Non-Inclusive Cultures and Funding the Future
A hard-hitting panel on “Non-Inclusive Culture in the Music Industry,” moderated by Ashley Samuels-Mckenzie, confronted the systemic barriers head-on.
Wizdom Layne (MOBO Unsung / Sound Connections) identified the core issue as often being one of class, not just race. “If you’ve never played golf or don’t ski, there are certain conversations you just don’t end up in,” he noted, emphasising that getting in the door is only half the battle; staying in and thriving requires navigating unspoken cultural codes.
Foreda Begum (Omnicom Media Group) and Lyle Bignon stressed the power of “paying it forward” and the responsibility of those inside the industry to become mentors and advocates. The panel agreed that while initiatives like PRS Foundation’s Power Up are crucial for supporting Black leaders, the industry itself must look beyond “tick-box” EDI policies and embrace true representation at all levels, especially in senior leadership.
The most revolutionary solution to the perennial funding crisis was presented by Jay Baughan (Pluggin Ecosystem). He unveiled a sustainable model harnessing the new Procurement Act, which mandates that businesses winning public contracts must deliver measurable social value.
His “Dual Impact Collaboration Model” is already being used to connect major corporate suppliers with grassroots projects like Musically Unorthodox, creating a long-term, scalable funding stream that moves beyond reliance on dwindling grants.
A Call to Collective Action
The day was punctuated by powerful “In the Spotlight” presentations from local services like Northampton College, Wi Educate, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust, and the Shaw Trust, all showcasing their commitment to collaborative, flexible pathways.
The conference culminated in a breathtakingly honest and motivational talk from Morris ‘The Connector’ Lothian, who journeyed from a life of gangs and family losses to running a chauffeur company for global superstars such as Justin Bieber, Beyonce, ASAP Rocky to mention a few. His story was a living embodiment of the conference’s theme: “Your pain is your gain… Find your gift, and it becomes your purpose.”
The dialogue has begun but this movement aims to be far more than just a forum for discussion. Our mission is to become a proactive force, building a sustainable, fully operational ecosystem that supports young people through creativity, collaboration, and opportunity. To accelerate this vision, we are seeking partners with resources, expertise, and influence who share our urgency and commitment. The stakes are high with the rise in knife crime, gang affiliation, and youth exploitation through county lines, there has never been a more critical time to act.
This is an open invitation. Whether you are a funder, an industry leader, an educator, or a young person with a passion for change your voice and your connection matter.
Reach out to us at: info@inmusicinmedia.com