The Youth Music Awards, in association with Hal Leonard Europe, took place on Wednesday 20 Oct 2021 at Troxy, London.

Rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID-19, the second Youth Music Awards was a special coming together of the forward-thinking people and projects making, learning and earning in the grassroots UK music scene.

Youth Music Awards 2021: Highlights

“After everything we’ve all been through over the last 18 months, it’s so exciting to be together and celebrate so many achievements", Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths stated as the awards triumphantly returned for its second year.

Youth Music project alumni Sans Soucis opened the ceremony with a performance, before being revealed as winner of the Original Track Award (Solo) sponsored by TikTok. Second performer MAN0 enacted his spoken-word poem titled “Hope”. The audience was invited to vote on the Live Performance Award, sponsored by Allianz Musical Insurance, and nominees Sarah Angel, Lavz and TEE all performed original tracks.

TEE closed the ceremony with his double award-winning song, “Black Wings”, a powerful rap about race and his lived experience.

Winners:

  • Entrepreneur Award sponsored by Arts Council England: Eva Davies, Come Play With Me
  • Young Leader Award sponsored by Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery: Sindy Czureja, Music Action International
  • Inspirational Music Leader sponsored by the MU: Jimmy Power, Inspire Youth Arts
  • Outstanding Project Award sponsored by Turtle Bay: Reform Radio
  • Social Action Award sponsored by Hal Leonard Europe: Music Fusion
  • Lyricist Award sponsored by Spotify: TEE - Black Wings
  • Live Performance Award sponsored by Allianz Musical Insurance: TEE - Black Wings
  • Original Track Award (Group) sponsored by Marshall Amplification: Scratch Collective - Spending My Nights
  • Original Track (Solo) sponsored by TikTok: Sans Soucis - Air
  • Music Producer Award sponsored by Charanga: Priv on the Beat - Pop Smoke
  • Music Video Award sponsored by YouTube: Danielle aka D.M.S.
  • Outstanding Act Award sponsored by Capitol Records - Superlative

Judges:

  • Alice Vaughan - A&R Director, EMI Records
  • Bicep - Electronic Duo & Youth Music Ambassadors
  • Bryan Wilson - Music Producer & Founder, Boom Dice Presents
  • Charlie Rout - Associate Creative Director, Warner Music X
  • Chris Daglish - Brand Programs Manager, Levi's
  • Chris Pattinson - Director of Music, Media Arts Lab
  • Ebi Sampson - Co-Founder, AUGUST
  • Ellie Prohan - DJ & Presenter
  • Holly Appleton - Head of Digital, DawBell
  • Iain McGoldrick - Head of Business Development, DJ Mag
  • Jake Gosling - Producer & Songwriter
  • James Giddings - Co-Founder, DeLaMouche
  • Jenna Knight - Founder, JK PR
  • Jordan Stephens - Creative, musician, writer & performer
  • Kevin Blair - Director, Asylum Records
  • Kieran Yeates - Content Projects Lead, Apple Music UK & Ireland
  • Kwabs - Singer-songwriter
  • Laura Davidson - Founder, AMIGAS
  • Linda Maitland - Senior Manager, Atlas Artists
  • Mahalia - Singer/songwriter
  • Martha Kinn - Artist Manager, YMU
  • Matt Hales - Songwriter, Producer & Recording Artist
  • Nadia Khan - Music Consultant & Founder, Women in CTRL
  • NAINA - DJ
  • Naomi Pohl - General Secretary, the MU
  • Nick Lewis - Head of Music, KOKO
  • Parris OH - Artist Partnerships, TikTok
  • Peter Capstick - Label Manager, Marshall Records
  • Rebecca Frank - Content Director, KISS Network
  • Rob Swaden - MD and Founder, 333 Management
  • Shauni Cabellero - Founder, Go2Agency
  • Sheniece Charway - Artist Partnerships, YouTube Music
  • Sian Eleri - Radio presenter
  • Simon Lyon - Brand Manager UK & Ireland, Ableton
  • Terry Appiasei - Artist Manager/A&R Consultant, Atlantic/Asylum Records UK
  • Tom Farncombe - Manager, Publishing Society Partnerships, YouTube
  • Whitney Wei - Editor-in-Chief, Resident Advisor