I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the wealth of untapped talent and the under representation that still exists across the music industry, even within Wales, where I come from How many voices go unheard simply because of where they were born or the circumstances they were born into? People with some of the most interesting stories to tell, perspectives we haven’t heard and music we haven’t yet discovered, not because the talent isn’t there, but because the opportunity isn’t We speak so much about talent and resilience, but not enough about access. Access to time, financial security, networks and the freedom to keep creating without constantly wondering whether it’s sustainable It also feels like we’re at a point where the industry is becoming increasingly risk averse. Labels, publishers and promoters are under pressure, but that often means fewer chances being taken on emerging artists and more investment going towards what’s already proven. That’s understandable in the short term, but if we stop investing in new voices, what does the future of music look like? The industry needs to invest in its future, not just protect the profits of its present. Supporting new artists isn’t a risk to be avoided. It’s how the next generation of music gets made We celebrate the people who make it against the odds, in any sphere, but we don’t often stop to ask why those odds exist in the first place, or how many incredible artists we lose because the barriers are simply too high Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.