Ewan McVicar Warns Economic Crisis Threatens to Lock Working-Class Talent Out of Music
Scottish DJ Ewan McVicar, who has had a meteoric rise through the Scottish music scene from cold storage warehouses to international stages, is sounding the alarm that the current economic climate is creating an insurmountable barrier for working-class individuals hoping to break into the music industry.
"Working class people getting priced out of things is getting worse and worse," McVicar warns. "I know what it is like to be skint. About five years ago I was living off my overdraft."
McVicar's is a testament to hard work and determination, which foster his talent and creating opportunities, but he fears that the same opportunities will not be available to future generations. Drawing parallels to football, with rising ticket prices that are pushing working-class fans out of the stadiums.
He argues that the same is happening in music.
"If you look at football, working class people are being priced out of going to games and that's true in music too," McVicar explains.
Sutton Trust: A Class Act
The Sutton Trust’s 2024 report, A Class Act, reinforces McVicar's concerns. The report found low proportions of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds in creative degrees.
Those from affluent backgrounds (“upper-middle-class”) make up high proportions of students at the most prestigious institutions, and in subjects like Music and Art.
It also highlights the high percentages of privately educated students at specialist institutions like the Royal Academy of Music (41%), and Royal College of Music (43%).
The Real Cost: Talent Lost, Culture Diminished
When the path to success in the music industry is determined by wealth and privilege, the result is a loss of working-class engagement to the detriment of the cultural landscape.
McVicar's message is clear: without addressing the systemic inequalities that prevent working-class individuals from accessing the arts, Scotland risks losing a generation of talented musicians. McVicar emphasises that:
"Working class people getting priced out of things is getting worse and worse."
Call to Action
The solution, McVicar argues, requires a multi-pronged approach:
Investment in grassroots culture: Supporting community arts programmes and affordable music education.
Breaking down barriers to higher education: Eliminating audition fees and providing financial assistance for students from low-income backgrounds.
Challenging elitism: Promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry.
Ewan McVicar's story is an inspiration, but it should also serve as a wake-up call!
The creative industries, including the music industry, and the wider cultural landscape, must be accessible to all, regardless of their background. As McVicar himself states, it is time to ensure that it is possible for future generations.
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