Why investing in musicians matters

It’s a brilliant moment for UK music – full of excitement, creativity and well‑deserved recognition.

But whenever I watch the amazing talent on that stage or see the headlines the next morning, I always think about everything that comes before that moment. Because the journey of all of those artists is usually a complex one, with their recognition hard won.

Take artists like Sam Fender, Lola Young and Wolf Alice. All have had huge moments over the past few years, and it’s tempting to think of their success as inevitable. But speak to any of them, or anyone working in music today, and you’ll hear a different story.

The reality is a lot messier: years of writing songs no one may ever hear, navigating the ups and downs, trying to find collaborators and navigating the pressure of ​“keeping going” when the future path is more uncertain.

That’s the real foundation of the BRITs – thousands of artists quietly putting in the work long before anyone knows their name.

But the BRITs stage is not built on headline acts alone. Behind every unforgettable performance are the talented musicians who bring it to life; the singers, brass players, string sections and musical directors and touring professionals who have spent years honing their craft. Whether performing alongside artists like RAYE or Mark Ronson, these musicians are an essential part of what makes those moments so powerful.

A difficult time to build a career in music

Right now, that early stage of a career in music has never been harder. At Help Musicians, we believe music should be a viable career for anyone, from any background. Our role is to help level the playing field, so that talent and dedication, not financial circumstance, determine who gets the opportunity to progress.

Musicians are facing financial instability that would be unthinkable in most industries. Touring costs have rocketed. Living costs are through the roof. Creative time is squeezed. And for many musicians, the emotional strain is just as challenging as the financial one.

The talent we have in the UK is fantastic, but that talent needs support and nurturing to achieve its potential.

And this is true not only for those aspiring to headline arenas, but for the freelance musicians, session players and touring professionals who form the backbone of the live music industry. 

Development support isn’t a luxury. It’s how great careers are built.

This is why investment in career development is so important.

It’s the space where musicians get to grow, try something new, or through a new connection help them navigate a path to building a career that is right for them.

At Help Musicians, we see this every day. Our career development support – including our work with vital partners – helps artists record, collaborate, tour, upskill or push forward creatively at the moments when it really counts.

Crucially, that support is there for musicians right across the sector, whether they are developing as artists in their own right or building careers as performers supporting others on stage and in studios.

Sometimes it’s financial support to invest in a project. Sometimes it’s mentoring. Sometimes it’s just knowing someone believes in what they’re trying to do.

But it makes a difference. And across the industry, we’ve seen again and again that early development support is often the turning point that allows a musician to find that important step forward along the path to success.

None of this happens alone

Help Musicians can only do this because of partnership and collaboration.

Our donors, partners, collaborators and wider industry peers make this possible. The UK music ecosystem is strongest when we work together. And when we acknowledge that the future of our cultural landscape is shaped not by luck, but by support, opportunity and access. We recognise the help that others provide too; from organisations supporting grassroots, ones representing key issues and providing support in other means to help music and musicians thrive.

The BRIT Awards remind us what UK music is capable of. But if we want to keep seeing UK artists break through, tour the world and power a creative economy worth billions, we have to look beyond the awards night itself.

We need to support musicians at the very start, when their potential is huge but their resources are small. We also need to ensure that the wider community of skilled musicians who stand alongside them on stages like the BRITs can build sustainable, fulfilling careers of their own.

At Help Musicians, we’re committed to doing exactly that. And with continued financial help, collaboration and support, we can help ensure the next generation of musicians have the chance to make it all the way to the BRITs stage.

(Image: BRIT Awards 2026)