Christopher BarrettLive Nation UK and its Festival Republic arm have joined forces with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to create opportunities for young people to access a career in the music industry through internship programmes.
Since it was launched in 2012, the former England and Manchester United defender’s foundation has helped more than 15,000 young people into work.
Live Nation UK is the latest addition to the charity’s international network of partners whose collective aim is to tackle generational inequalities and empower young people to hone their skills, with a big focus on the cultural industries.
The partnership is to be launched at the Into the Music industry career event at Selhurst Park, Croydon, on 23 October. Live Nation UK and Festival Republic will join fellow Foundation partners Warner Music and Kiss to highlight opportunities in the live music industry and open the door to new training and career opportunities for young people.
Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn said, “We’re not the singers, the dancers, the band, the performers, but we are the people who enable the performers to do well in front of their fans, and that takes an awful lot of work, and that’s why we need people, and we need good people.
“Our customers come from every part of society, and if our workforce doesn’t represent that, we must do better.”
Ferdinand said, “Live Nation UK and Festival Republic speak the same language that we speak as a Foundation; the music industry has youth culture embedded the same as football; there’s such a power behind that; it’s opening young people’s minds and making them understand there’s so many layers to those industries and so many opportunities to be involved.
“We can’t all be a singer or a footballer; there are so many people who have a vital role to play, I’m excited for this partnership as it really opens eyes to the depth of opportunities in the industry.
“The key word is opportunity, the chance to put your best foot forward. Not everyone is afforded the same opportunity. We need partners like Live Nation UK and Festival Republic to come with us to create these opportunities for the next generation.”