Through their project, FamFrequency will test whether taking youth music producers’ artistic ambitions seriously and equipping them with both creative and business skills can foster sustainable pathways for youth to financially support themselves through art. Most existing arts-focused youth programs focus on leveraging creative practice toward other ends – like academic success and personal development. However, in the era of TikTok and YouTube, many high school student artists are moving away from the high school-to-college-to-salary trajectory and toward independent creative and media-engaged careers. The current lack of professional development and business support for aspiring young artists leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and financial instability as they attempt to enter a complex and competitive industry. FamFrequency Productions aims to channel this energy into entrepreneurial success by capitalizing on and cultivating young people’s dreams of creative careers, with a particular focus on women and BIPOC individuals. They will do so by exposing youth to the varied ways they can put music production skills to work, building their technical and entrepreneurial capacity, and helping broker and facilitate early client relationships, to smooth the way to artistic income.
