(Aug. 2020) RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report, Press Release And Official Launch Of BARRE Register (updated)
BARRE Register: The place to search for articles and resources on Race, Racism, Afriphobia & Ethnicity in the music and creative industries in an age motivated by #BlackLivesMatter/#AfricanLivesMatter and #TheShowMustBePaused!
Showing posts with label BRegister. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BRegister. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2022
(Aug. 2020) REIMI BLACKOUTTUESDAY UK INDUSTRY RACE DIVERSITY REPORT
A BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress)/RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) report
A report conducted with several UK music industry organisations soon after the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd, which covered how they were engaging with Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-facing diversity issues:
https://bit.ly/REIMIRaceDiversityReport
(Feb. 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ RE:IMI Forum Background video
A short video giving the background to the post-George Floyd/#BlackOutTuesday/#TheShowMustBePaused RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-focused online forums: https://bit.ly/BBMUKMREIMI
(Feb 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ Overview & Progress Forum
UK Music Diversity Taskforce's chair Ammo Talwar and deputy chair Paulette Long leading on a presentation giving an overview of the 10-Point Plan, challenges and update on progress thus far. The second half will be for input from the floor. Wednesday Feb. 16, 4.00-5.30pm via Zoom: https://bit.ly/UKMBBMTuesday, July 21, 2020
BARRE Register
MUSIC
(Feb. 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ RE:IMI Forum Background video
A short video giving the background to the post-George Floyd/#BlackOutTuesday/#TheShowMustBePaused RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-focused online forums: https://bit.ly/BBMUKMREIMI
(Feb 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ Overview & Progress Forum
UK Music Diversity Taskforce's chair Ammo Talwar and deputy chair Paulette Long leading on a presentation giving an overview of the 10-Point Plan, challenges and update on progress thus far. The second half will be for input from the floor. Wednesday Feb. 16, 4.00-5.30pm via Zoom: https://bit.ly/UKMBBM
(Sep. 2020) Letters To The UK Music Press
1/2: https://itsrosh.nfshost.com/letter/
2/2: https://itsrosh.nfshost.com/measured/
You need loooaaaaaads of time and a clear head to read either of Roshan Chauhan's voluminous well thought out analysis of dance music press's whitewashing of African and working class contribution to the development of EDM (Electronic Dance Music): "Shows the systemic failure to recognise the existence of an entire Black & working class community on their doorstep. + data analysis & proposals for a fairer press for everyone in the future."
(Feb. 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ RE:IMI Forum Background video
A short video giving the background to the post-George Floyd/#BlackOutTuesday/#TheShowMustBePaused RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-focused online forums: https://bit.ly/BBMUKMREIMI
(Feb 2022) Unpacking The UK Music Diversity Report 2020: 1 Year+ Overview & Progress Forum
UK Music Diversity Taskforce's chair Ammo Talwar and deputy chair Paulette Long leading on a presentation giving an overview of the 10-Point Plan, challenges and update on progress thus far. The second half will be for input from the floor. Wednesday Feb. 16, 4.00-5.30pm via Zoom: https://bit.ly/UKMBBM
(Sep. 2020) Letters To The UK Music Press
1/2: https://itsrosh.nfshost.com/letter/
2/2: https://itsrosh.nfshost.com/measured/
You need loooaaaaaads of time and a clear head to read either of Roshan Chauhan's voluminous well thought out analysis of dance music press's whitewashing of African and working class contribution to the development of EDM (Electronic Dance Music): "Shows the systemic failure to recognise the existence of an entire Black & working class community on their doorstep. + data analysis & proposals for a fairer press for everyone in the future."
(Aug. 2020) REIMI BLACKOUTTUESDAY UK INDUSTRY RACE DIVERSITY REPORT
A BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress)/RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) report
A report conducted with several UK music industry organisations soon after the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd, which covered how they were engaging with Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-facing diversity issues:
https://bit.ly/REIMIRaceDiversityReport
(Aug. 2020) RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report, Press Release And Official Launch Of BARRE Register
Aug. 25: RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) marks the third month of George Floyd's murder by releasing the RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report (click here), Press Release and launch of BARRE Register. Comments welcome.
(Aug. 2020) PRS Foundation Preps Scheme To ‘Power Up’ Black Music Creators
Beggars Group CEO Paul Redding's English Channel swimming charity crowdfunding plan is expected to deliver a six-figure sum each for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in the US, and PRS Foundation, which will distribute to UK black music creators and African industry professionals.
(Aug. 2020) This Music Company Doesn’t Care About Black Lives
This feature article is based on a US multi-sector music industry survey of companies that supported Black Lives Matter movement, following the #BlackOutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused initiatives. Much of the article criticises ReverbNation, for not supporting BLM or a marketing mis-match with African American causes.
(Aug. 2020) 'Love, Unity And Friendship, Not Division And Hatred, Must And Will Always Be Our Common Cause.'
Hundreds of mostly British music artists, executives and organisations have signed a #NoSilenceInMusic open letter speaking out against all forms of racism and intolerance. Click here to access letter and full list of co-signatories.
(Aug. 2020) 'The Narrative Is We Don't Sell Records': The Black Female Singers Uncredited By The UK Industry
A feature starting from the 1990s roots of using uncredited, sometimes dismembered vocals, of female African vocalists on house and dance tracks, compounded by the stunting effects of shadism against current darker hued vocalists.
(July 2020) The Ivors Academy Announces Twelve-Point Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Action Plan
Check out the Academy's 2020-22 twelve-point Action Plan goals to champion equality, diversity and inclusion at the Academy and across its work, including the Ivor Novello Award.
(July 2020) Seat At The Table: Diversity In The Music Industry Report
Women In CTRL's report analyses 12 UK music industry organisations, and provides the statistical data as of July 2020 of where they stand with regards to representations of women and Black women on executive teams, boards, and chairs and CEOs. Includes the WIC Diversity Pledge.
(July 2020) MU's Letter To The Prime Minister In Support Of NEU’s Anti-Racism Recommendations
The Secretary General of the Musicians' Union (MU) has sent a letter to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in support of the National Education Union’s (NEU) five recommendations for urgent action to tackle racism. "The education sector is uniquely placed to dismantle racist attitudes and assumptions that support anti Blackness," urges the MU.
(July 2020) The Pool For Black Women Is Tiny': Nao Charts Her Music Industry Journey And Calls For Change
Singer-songwriter Nao in one of Music Week's articles featuring African British female artists talking about their experiences. "For a long time, black people haven’t been able to be the face of black music in Britain," says Nao. "We haven’t been able to lead in that space even though the music comes from us."
(July 2020) UK Royal Schools Of Music Exam Board Urged To Address Colonial Legacy
Singer-songwriter Jamelia articulates her experiences of racism as someone in the media and an African mother. You can also watch her forthright response to Boris Johnson's comments of Britain being "a much less racist society" in Jamelia: 'It's Covert Racism That's So Damaging'.
(June 2020) MOBO: An Inconvenient Truth
MOBO Awards CEO Kanya Kings pens an open letter to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pointing out her personal experience of Afriphobia, and calls for a cross-cultural United We Stand event...
(June 2020) Life As The "Black” Sugababe | My Story
Original Sugababe member Keisha Buchanan talks about the effects of being cast as "the angry black woman", a bully or "being difficult", and not appreciating the various ways in which racism manifests...
(June 2020) Black Music Execs Call On UK Industry To Drop 'Urban' Term And Adopt Anti-Racism Training
In an open letter by new organisation of African music industry execs Black Music Coalition, it "has called for a number of measures from the industry, including mandatory anti-racism training, adoption of a budget to support black organisations, career development for black staff, and removal of the term ‘urban music’ in favour of ‘black music’." Also see 'Urban' No More: Black British Music Execs Call For Industry Reforms.
(June 2020) Reflecting On #TheShowMustBePaused
Not surprising for a union, the Musicians' Union takes a more forthright approach in using #TheShowMustBePaused to highlight racism, Afriphobia, or in its language - anti-Blackness - and point in the direction of some of the practical ways of dealing with it.
(June 2020) Eddy Grant - A Change Is Going To Come
Singer-songwriter Eddy Grant, who has a good body of protest songs, speaks about the need to use African rather than black and that the current social movement should be about fighting for reparations for African enslavement...
(June 2020) TheShowMustBePaused Mission Statement
Here is the succinct mission statement of TheShowMustBePaused, the US organisation that got mainstream music companies and media to pause and express solidarity with the BlackLivesMatter/AfricanLivesMatter, and pronounce on race and racism/Afriphobic issues...
(June 2020) We Are The Black Music Action Coalition
This new US organisation Coalition "consists of artists, producers, songwriters, managers, business managers, attorneys and other passionate industry professionals who are deeply concerned about systemic racism..."
(June 2020) Leigh-Anne Pinnock Crying Whilst She Speaks Out About Her Experiences Of Racism In Little Mix
Although she gets emotional, because the African Little Mix member wrote what she wants to say, she makes a personal and cogent reflection of racism within the music industry...
(June 2020) Chineke! Foundation Founder Chi-chi Nwanoku And Writes To PM Boris Johnson To Get On Wih "Real Institutional Change"
(June 2020) Classical musician and Chineke! Foundation founder Chi-chi Nwanoku urges the Prime Minister to "address the inaction and resistance to the real institutional change that is needed to support the current Black Lives Matter movement" and to forget commissioning any new enquiries...
(June 2020) Chineke! And Other Cultural Leaders Call On Prime Minister To Act Not Review
A letter to PM Boris Johnson by AAME orchestra leader Chi-chi Nwanoku of the Chineke! Foundation leads an article that urges the PM to implement previous recommendation, than commission yet another research int racial inequality...
(June 2020) Alexandra Burke Speaks Out On Racism Experiences At X Factor, BBC Strictly Come Dancing & Music
Singer Alexandra Burke has been scared to make this video of her experience of racism, but now is the right time to speak her mind and hopefully to inspire others to speak up on racism...
(June 2020) White Riot: Black Lives Matter, ’70s Punk Style
Excellent "new" Face article. "For Minneapolis in 2020, read London in 1977. For Black Lives Matter, read Rock Against Racism." That says it all...
(June 2020) X Factor Singer Leona Lewis Speaks On Her Experience Of Racism In The UK
Singing star Leona Lewis talks of her experience of racism in a swish London store, reminiscent of Oprah Winfrey's experience in a high end Swiss store...
(June 2020) 'Make Sure This Is Not Another False Dawn': Keith Harris' Open Letter To The Music Industry
Veteran artist manager and former chair of UK Music’s Diversity & Equality Taskforce Keith Harris has called for music industry execs to ensure that the show of solidarity is part of systemic change in the industry. He cautions the industry, saying: "this awareness of racism in the industry should not last for one day, or one week, or one year"...
(June 2020) The Londoner: Black Session Musicians Matter Too, Says Singer
African backing singer Kelli-Leigh points to the discrimination experienced by backing singers from AAME communities, which include lack of career development and non-credits...
(June 2020) 'Urban' No More: Back British Music Execs Call For Industry Reforms
Open letter by new music execs collective Black Music Coalition calls for action against racism and marginalisation within the industry, and the removal of the use of "urban", preferring "black music"...
(June 2020) MOBO: An Inconvenient Truth
MOBO Awards CEO Kanya Kings pens an open letter to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pointing out her personal experience of Afriphobia, and calls for a cross-cultural United We Stand event...
(June 2020) An Open Letter From ILuvLive CEO Rachael Bee & MD Victor Redwood-Sawyerr
European ILuvLive CEO/owner and African MD talk about white privilege, discrimination against predominantly African punters in black music clubs...
(June 2020) 'A Letter To The World'
Teenager Leah Music has written a beautiful moving and articulate reflection of African life in light of the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd. Check out the music video straight away.
(2019) Grime Music Being Stifled By 'Institutionalised Racism' In UK, MPs' Report Concludes
(2015) Black Music: The Blurring Of The Africans' Ethno-Cultural Capital & Heritage/Last Word On Diversity, For Now
A BBM Newsletter. As part of marking British History 50:70 and a precursor to RE:IMI's activities during British Black Music Month (BBMM2015), please find introductions to two articles on 'race', racism, diversity, black music, music industry practice, and copyright/intellectual property...
(2015) Millennium's Biggest Album Sellers - Blue-Eyed Soul And Black Music Back To The Rescue, Again
A BBM Newsletter: At last Saturday's UN Anti-Racism Day rally at Trafalgar Square, Jerry Dammers, composer of the anti-apartheid anthem 'Free Nelson Mandela', made an appeal to musicians, artists, writers, and by extension to the creative industries, to "take a positive stance against racism in their work". Although there are a few individuals and organisations that are concerned about diversity and racism, I believe the success of a few African artists, and black music generally, tends to give the impression that the music industry works on meritocracy, and that racism is hardly worth talking about...
(2015) RE:IMI 2015 Soft Launch And African Debate
This RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) soft launch kicked off with the ‘British Music Industry Gains From Black Music: What Have Africans Gained?’ debate. The event also marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the 1965 Race Relations Act, the 70th anniversary of the 5th Pan-African Congress at Manchester, and the start of UN's International Decade of People Of African Descent, and seeks to highlight 'race' within Diversity discourse and music industry practice. Panel includes performer & trade unionist Zita Holbourne, musician & music industry practitioner Hugh Francis, former record producer and community educator Toyin Agbetu, Pan-African Society at QMUL president Dauda Barry, and BBM/BMC founder Kwaku, plus maverick record producer & owner of Ariwa record label Neil 'Mad Professor' Fraser via video.
(2015) BBMM2015 Race/Ethnic Diversity In Music Conference Background
Background information speaking to the RE:IMI BBMM 2015 diversity conference entitled Is Racism And Ethnic Diversity An Issue Within The Music Industry? This video is compiled from online articles on 'race', racism and ethnic diversity within the music/creative industries, starting with the dialogue within the film, TV and broadcast media championed by the recently knighted comedian and actor Lenny Henry, and ending with a few excepts from videos featuring the likes record producer/label owner Neil 'Mad Professor' Fraser, artist manager and industry executive Keith Harris, Carl McIntosh of Loose Ends, and Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame, former BBC Radio 1 head Chris Lycett, and former MCA Records MD Tony Powell.
PUBLISHING
(Aug. 2020) British Vogue Editor Edward Enninful Says Racial Profiling 'Can Happen Any Day'
British Vogue's first male and African editor talks about his own experience of racism, including racial profiling at his office building, and systemic racism ahead of the publication's cover feature story highlighting nearly two dozen activists challenging racism in different ways.
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
NOTE: We have asked The Conversation's editor to explain why this article has been taken down. However the sections culled by Google's robots across 3 online coverage, should give some indication of the article's contents.
A substantial market
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
Limited promotion and marketing budgets reinforce false ideas about how well diverse books and writers will sell. This leads to a negative cycle for black, Asian and minority ethnic writers.
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
As people seek to educate themselves in response to Black Lives Matter protests, sales of books by black British authors, such as Reni Eddo-Lodge and Bernadine Evaristo, have topped the UK bestseller lists. Several recent prestigious awards have also been won by black writers, including Candice Carty-Williams who won book of the year for Queenie at the British Book Awards. Although proud of her achievement, she was also “sad and confused” on discovering she was the first black author to win this award in its 25-year history.
(June 2020) Black Writers’ Guild Calls For Sweeping Change In UK Publishing
As black authors top the bestseller charts in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd, the newly formed Black Writers’ Guild (BWG), which counts among its members some of Britain’s best known authors and poets, has written an open letter airing concerns that “British publishers are raising awareness of racial inequality without significantly addressing their own”. Several of the signatories have recently shared their experiences of racism, including editors’ requests to add white or racist characters to their books, and being offered lower advances than their white contemporaries. The letter was sent to the “big five” publishers – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins and Macmillan.
(Jan. 2019) UK Publishers’ 2018 Diversity Report: ‘More Needs To Be Done’
"The Publishers Association’s second annual diversity survey found that racial and ethnic criteria were where progress is slowest..."
MEDIA
(June 2020) BBC Commits £100m Of Its Content Spend On Diverse Productions And Talent
Let's hope this is not one of those start-stop initiatives of the Beeb. This, it says: "The BBC is setting out the first in a new series of bold steps to transform its programming and better represent the public it serves..."
(2015) Trevor Phillips' Channel 4 Race Programme Tonight ... Race Back To Racial Equality Focus
A BBM newsletter that speaks to race-related activities in the community, and expressions within the media. Instead of us marking the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act with some optimism, it seems race equality is at a tricky crossroads. Tonight, UKip leader Nigel Farage, will claim he’s racially “colour-blind”, and say on Trevor Phillip's Channel 4 documentary 'Things We Won't Say About Race That Are True' that he'll be tearing up Britain’s race equality laws, instead of strengthening them should he come to power...
FILM
Explainer: What Is Systemic Racism And Institutional racism?
At the 2020 BAFTA awards, Joaquin Phoenix called out systemic racism in the film industry in his acceptance speech for leading actor. He said: "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you’re not welcome here. I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from. […] I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural. We have to do really the hard work to truly understand systemic racism." Systemic racism, or institutional racism, refers to how ideas of white superiority are captured in everyday thinking at a systems level: taking in the big picture of how society operates, rather than looking at one-on-one interactions.
(1974) Marlon Brando On Rejecting His Oscar For 'The Godfather': The Dick Cavett Show
Hollywood film star Marlon Brando gives a heart-felt response to why he rejected his 1973 Best Actor award for his performance in 'The Godfather', by speaking about Hollywood racism on and off-screen against AAME people...
HR/DIVERSITY RESOURCES
The Black Report 2020
This online resource provides backgrounds to start-up business founders from AAME (African, Asian, Minority Ethnic) communities, their stories and demographics.
A BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress)/RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) report
A report conducted with several UK music industry organisations soon after the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd, which covered how they were engaging with Afriphobia, racism and ethnicity/race-facing diversity issues:
https://bit.ly/REIMIRaceDiversityReport
(Aug. 2020) RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report, Press Release And Official Launch Of BARRE Register
Aug. 25: RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) marks the third month of George Floyd's murder by releasing the RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report (click here), Press Release and launch of BARRE Register. Comments welcome.
(Aug. 2020) PRS Foundation Preps Scheme To ‘Power Up’ Black Music Creators
Beggars Group CEO Paul Redding's English Channel swimming charity crowdfunding plan is expected to deliver a six-figure sum each for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in the US, and PRS Foundation, which will distribute to UK black music creators and African industry professionals.
(Aug. 2020) This Music Company Doesn’t Care About Black Lives
This feature article is based on a US multi-sector music industry survey of companies that supported Black Lives Matter movement, following the #BlackOutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused initiatives. Much of the article criticises ReverbNation, for not supporting BLM or a marketing mis-match with African American causes.
(Aug. 2020) 'Love, Unity And Friendship, Not Division And Hatred, Must And Will Always Be Our Common Cause.'
Hundreds of mostly British music artists, executives and organisations have signed a #NoSilenceInMusic open letter speaking out against all forms of racism and intolerance. Click here to access letter and full list of co-signatories.
(Aug. 2020) 'The Narrative Is We Don't Sell Records': The Black Female Singers Uncredited By The UK Industry
A feature starting from the 1990s roots of using uncredited, sometimes dismembered vocals, of female African vocalists on house and dance tracks, compounded by the stunting effects of shadism against current darker hued vocalists.
(July 2020) The Ivors Academy Announces Twelve-Point Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Action Plan
Check out the Academy's 2020-22 twelve-point Action Plan goals to champion equality, diversity and inclusion at the Academy and across its work, including the Ivor Novello Award.
(July 2020) Seat At The Table: Diversity In The Music Industry Report
Women In CTRL's report analyses 12 UK music industry organisations, and provides the statistical data as of July 2020 of where they stand with regards to representations of women and Black women on executive teams, boards, and chairs and CEOs. Includes the WIC Diversity Pledge.
(July 2020) MU's Letter To The Prime Minister In Support Of NEU’s Anti-Racism Recommendations
The Secretary General of the Musicians' Union (MU) has sent a letter to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in support of the National Education Union’s (NEU) five recommendations for urgent action to tackle racism. "The education sector is uniquely placed to dismantle racist attitudes and assumptions that support anti Blackness," urges the MU.
(July 2020) The Pool For Black Women Is Tiny': Nao Charts Her Music Industry Journey And Calls For Change
Singer-songwriter Nao in one of Music Week's articles featuring African British female artists talking about their experiences. "For a long time, black people haven’t been able to be the face of black music in Britain," says Nao. "We haven’t been able to lead in that space even though the music comes from us."
(July 2020) UK Royal Schools Of Music Exam Board Urged To Address Colonial Legacy
The exam board of Britain’s royal schools of music is being urged to address the legacy of its colonial origins after research found 99% of pieces on its syllabuses were by white composers. Almost 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), which was founded in 1890 and exported its ideals of musical standards across the British empire, to include “black composers who have shaped the course of western classical music”.
And click the petition here to discover: Even in the ABRSM jazz piano syllabus, only around 22-25%* of the set works are written/arranged by black composers. Considering jazz originated in African-American communities, it seems to me that this statistic should be the other way round.
(June 2020) 09/06/20 BBM Newsletter: The Dark And Massive Edition - Afriphobia, #AfricanLivesMatter, Reggae, British Black Music, British Music Industry, Pan-Africanism, Politics
BBM Alert speaks to racism, Afriphobia etc in the music industry, as it re-launches RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) and BAAR (British Artists Against Racism)...
(June 2020) 12 Facts That Prove That Black Lives Don’t Matter In Britain
Accessible, snapshot list of racial disparity between Africans and the general British society across several social fields, based on government statistics.
(June 2020) Music Industry To Participate In Black Out Tuesday
Music Week and the music industry – spanning all sectors – backed the Black Out Tuesday (June 2) initiative – which asked people not to conduct in any business and instead observe a day of reflection and community engagement – following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Music Week fully supports this industry-wide act of solidarity with theblack African community and will not be reporting on the business during Black Out Tuesday.
(June 2020) MMF BLM Resources And Recommended Reading
"The MMF stand in solidarity with black communities around the world, UK and in our industry. The fight against racism is an ongoing one, both on a level of larger structural racism and violence but also within our industry and music community," starts the blurb on this Music Managers Forum useful page on its website with links to books, articles, videos and podcasts that speak to racism, Afriphobia, white privilege, plus links to BLM resources.
(June 2020) Jamelia: Racism In The UK Is An Everyday Experience(June 2020) 09/06/20 BBM Newsletter: The Dark And Massive Edition - Afriphobia, #AfricanLivesMatter, Reggae, British Black Music, British Music Industry, Pan-Africanism, Politics
BBM Alert speaks to racism, Afriphobia etc in the music industry, as it re-launches RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) and BAAR (British Artists Against Racism)...
(June 2020) 12 Facts That Prove That Black Lives Don’t Matter In Britain
Accessible, snapshot list of racial disparity between Africans and the general British society across several social fields, based on government statistics.
(June 2020) Music Industry To Participate In Black Out Tuesday
Music Week and the music industry – spanning all sectors – backed the Black Out Tuesday (June 2) initiative – which asked people not to conduct in any business and instead observe a day of reflection and community engagement – following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Music Week fully supports this industry-wide act of solidarity with the
(June 2020) MMF BLM Resources And Recommended Reading
"The MMF stand in solidarity with black communities around the world, UK and in our industry. The fight against racism is an ongoing one, both on a level of larger structural racism and violence but also within our industry and music community," starts the blurb on this Music Managers Forum useful page on its website with links to books, articles, videos and podcasts that speak to racism, Afriphobia, white privilege, plus links to BLM resources.
Singer-songwriter Jamelia articulates her experiences of racism as someone in the media and an African mother. You can also watch her forthright response to Boris Johnson's comments of Britain being "a much less racist society" in Jamelia: 'It's Covert Racism That's So Damaging'.
(June 2020) MOBO: An Inconvenient Truth
MOBO Awards CEO Kanya Kings pens an open letter to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pointing out her personal experience of Afriphobia, and calls for a cross-cultural United We Stand event...
(June 2020) Life As The "Black” Sugababe | My Story
Original Sugababe member Keisha Buchanan talks about the effects of being cast as "the angry black woman", a bully or "being difficult", and not appreciating the various ways in which racism manifests...
(June 2020) Black Music Execs Call On UK Industry To Drop 'Urban' Term And Adopt Anti-Racism Training
In an open letter by new organisation of African music industry execs Black Music Coalition, it "has called for a number of measures from the industry, including mandatory anti-racism training, adoption of a budget to support black organisations, career development for black staff, and removal of the term ‘urban music’ in favour of ‘black music’." Also see 'Urban' No More: Black British Music Execs Call For Industry Reforms.
(June 2020) Reflecting On #TheShowMustBePaused
Not surprising for a union, the Musicians' Union takes a more forthright approach in using #TheShowMustBePaused to highlight racism, Afriphobia, or in its language - anti-Blackness - and point in the direction of some of the practical ways of dealing with it.
(June 2020) Eddy Grant - A Change Is Going To Come
Singer-songwriter Eddy Grant, who has a good body of protest songs, speaks about the need to use African rather than black and that the current social movement should be about fighting for reparations for African enslavement...
(June 2020) TheShowMustBePaused Mission Statement
Here is the succinct mission statement of TheShowMustBePaused, the US organisation that got mainstream music companies and media to pause and express solidarity with the BlackLivesMatter/AfricanLivesMatter, and pronounce on race and racism/Afriphobic issues...
(June 2020) We Are The Black Music Action Coalition
This new US organisation Coalition "consists of artists, producers, songwriters, managers, business managers, attorneys and other passionate industry professionals who are deeply concerned about systemic racism..."
(June 2020) Leigh-Anne Pinnock Crying Whilst She Speaks Out About Her Experiences Of Racism In Little Mix
Although she gets emotional, because the African Little Mix member wrote what she wants to say, she makes a personal and cogent reflection of racism within the music industry...
(June 2020) Chineke! Foundation Founder Chi-chi Nwanoku And Writes To PM Boris Johnson To Get On Wih "Real Institutional Change"
(June 2020) Classical musician and Chineke! Foundation founder Chi-chi Nwanoku urges the Prime Minister to "address the inaction and resistance to the real institutional change that is needed to support the current Black Lives Matter movement" and to forget commissioning any new enquiries...
(June 2020) Chineke! And Other Cultural Leaders Call On Prime Minister To Act Not Review
A letter to PM Boris Johnson by AAME orchestra leader Chi-chi Nwanoku of the Chineke! Foundation leads an article that urges the PM to implement previous recommendation, than commission yet another research int racial inequality...
(June 2020) Alexandra Burke Speaks Out On Racism Experiences At X Factor, BBC Strictly Come Dancing & Music
Singer Alexandra Burke has been scared to make this video of her experience of racism, but now is the right time to speak her mind and hopefully to inspire others to speak up on racism...
(June 2020) White Riot: Black Lives Matter, ’70s Punk Style
Excellent "new" Face article. "For Minneapolis in 2020, read London in 1977. For Black Lives Matter, read Rock Against Racism." That says it all...
(June 2020) X Factor Singer Leona Lewis Speaks On Her Experience Of Racism In The UK
Singing star Leona Lewis talks of her experience of racism in a swish London store, reminiscent of Oprah Winfrey's experience in a high end Swiss store...
(June 2020) 'Make Sure This Is Not Another False Dawn': Keith Harris' Open Letter To The Music Industry
Veteran artist manager and former chair of UK Music’s Diversity & Equality Taskforce Keith Harris has called for music industry execs to ensure that the show of solidarity is part of systemic change in the industry. He cautions the industry, saying: "this awareness of racism in the industry should not last for one day, or one week, or one year"...
(June 2020) The Londoner: Black Session Musicians Matter Too, Says Singer
African backing singer Kelli-Leigh points to the discrimination experienced by backing singers from AAME communities, which include lack of career development and non-credits...
(June 2020) 'Urban' No More: Back British Music Execs Call For Industry Reforms
Open letter by new music execs collective Black Music Coalition calls for action against racism and marginalisation within the industry, and the removal of the use of "urban", preferring "black music"...
(June 2020) MOBO: An Inconvenient Truth
MOBO Awards CEO Kanya Kings pens an open letter to The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pointing out her personal experience of Afriphobia, and calls for a cross-cultural United We Stand event...
(June 2020) An Open Letter From ILuvLive CEO Rachael Bee & MD Victor Redwood-Sawyerr
European ILuvLive CEO/owner and African MD talk about white privilege, discrimination against predominantly African punters in black music clubs...
(June 2020) 'A Letter To The World'
Teenager Leah Music has written a beautiful moving and articulate reflection of African life in light of the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd. Check out the music video straight away.
(2019) Grime Music Being Stifled By 'Institutionalised Racism' In UK, MPs' Report Concludes
A report into the UK music scene has found that grime artists continue to face discrimination by music venues, police and local authorities over unfounded fears of violence at their concerts. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee says that "persisting prejudice" against artists from grime, rap and hip hop risks "the future of one of the UK's most exciting musical exports".
At a time when 'race' and ethnicity issues have cropped up, as evidenced by the #BritsSoWhite trend, and 'race' sometimes does not feature in diversity/equality remits, RE:IMI, which is a BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress initiative, aims to work with stakeholders within and without the music industry by highlighting 'race' and ethnicity deficits. And also pursue initiatives such as British Artists Against Racism (BAAR). Join us, as we set out our stall, and also find out what others, such as the BPI, the UK Music Diversity Task Force and BECTU, are doing to address 'race' equality and diversity.
After nearly two years of low-key engagement, RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) is formally launched at the House of Commons on July 12 2016, hosted by Dawn Butler MP.
This formal launch brings to the fore RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry), a collective made up of music industry practitioners, musicians, producers, academics, historians, community activists and equality practitioners, which has a focus on 'race' within music industry diversity/equality discourse and practice.
(2015) Black Music: The Blurring Of The Africans' Ethno-Cultural Capital & Heritage/Last Word On Diversity, For Now
A BBM Newsletter. As part of marking British History 50:70 and a precursor to RE:IMI's activities during British Black Music Month (BBMM2015), please find introductions to two articles on 'race', racism, diversity, black music, music industry practice, and copyright/intellectual property...
(2015) Millennium's Biggest Album Sellers - Blue-Eyed Soul And Black Music Back To The Rescue, Again
A BBM Newsletter: At last Saturday's UN Anti-Racism Day rally at Trafalgar Square, Jerry Dammers, composer of the anti-apartheid anthem 'Free Nelson Mandela', made an appeal to musicians, artists, writers, and by extension to the creative industries, to "take a positive stance against racism in their work". Although there are a few individuals and organisations that are concerned about diversity and racism, I believe the success of a few African artists, and black music generally, tends to give the impression that the music industry works on meritocracy, and that racism is hardly worth talking about...
(2015) RE:IMI 2015 Soft Launch And African Debate
This RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) soft launch kicked off with the ‘British Music Industry Gains From Black Music: What Have Africans Gained?’ debate. The event also marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the 1965 Race Relations Act, the 70th anniversary of the 5th Pan-African Congress at Manchester, and the start of UN's International Decade of People Of African Descent, and seeks to highlight 'race' within Diversity discourse and music industry practice. Panel includes performer & trade unionist Zita Holbourne, musician & music industry practitioner Hugh Francis, former record producer and community educator Toyin Agbetu, Pan-African Society at QMUL president Dauda Barry, and BBM/BMC founder Kwaku, plus maverick record producer & owner of Ariwa record label Neil 'Mad Professor' Fraser via video.
(2015) BBMM2015 Race/Ethnic Diversity In Music Conference Background
Background information speaking to the RE:IMI BBMM 2015 diversity conference entitled Is Racism And Ethnic Diversity An Issue Within The Music Industry? This video is compiled from online articles on 'race', racism and ethnic diversity within the music/creative industries, starting with the dialogue within the film, TV and broadcast media championed by the recently knighted comedian and actor Lenny Henry, and ending with a few excepts from videos featuring the likes record producer/label owner Neil 'Mad Professor' Fraser, artist manager and industry executive Keith Harris, Carl McIntosh of Loose Ends, and Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame, former BBC Radio 1 head Chris Lycett, and former MCA Records MD Tony Powell.
PUBLISHING
(Aug. 2020) British Vogue Editor Edward Enninful Says Racial Profiling 'Can Happen Any Day'
British Vogue's first male and African editor talks about his own experience of racism, including racial profiling at his office building, and systemic racism ahead of the publication's cover feature story highlighting nearly two dozen activists challenging racism in different ways.
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
NOTE: We have asked The Conversation's editor to explain why this article has been taken down. However the sections culled by Google's robots across 3 online coverage, should give some indication of the article's contents.
A substantial market
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
Limited promotion and marketing budgets reinforce false ideas about how well diverse books and writers will sell. This leads to a negative cycle for black, Asian and minority ethnic writers.
(July 2020) What Black Writers Think About The UK’s Publishing Industry – A Survey
As people seek to educate themselves in response to Black Lives Matter protests, sales of books by black British authors, such as Reni Eddo-Lodge and Bernadine Evaristo, have topped the UK bestseller lists. Several recent prestigious awards have also been won by black writers, including Candice Carty-Williams who won book of the year for Queenie at the British Book Awards. Although proud of her achievement, she was also “sad and confused” on discovering she was the first black author to win this award in its 25-year history.
(June 2020) Black Writers’ Guild Calls For Sweeping Change In UK Publishing
As black authors top the bestseller charts in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd, the newly formed Black Writers’ Guild (BWG), which counts among its members some of Britain’s best known authors and poets, has written an open letter airing concerns that “British publishers are raising awareness of racial inequality without significantly addressing their own”. Several of the signatories have recently shared their experiences of racism, including editors’ requests to add white or racist characters to their books, and being offered lower advances than their white contemporaries. The letter was sent to the “big five” publishers – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins and Macmillan.
(Jan. 2019) UK Publishers’ 2018 Diversity Report: ‘More Needs To Be Done’
"The Publishers Association’s second annual diversity survey found that racial and ethnic criteria were where progress is slowest..."
MEDIA
(June 2020) BBC Commits £100m Of Its Content Spend On Diverse Productions And Talent
Let's hope this is not one of those start-stop initiatives of the Beeb. This, it says: "The BBC is setting out the first in a new series of bold steps to transform its programming and better represent the public it serves..."
(2015) Trevor Phillips' Channel 4 Race Programme Tonight ... Race Back To Racial Equality Focus
A BBM newsletter that speaks to race-related activities in the community, and expressions within the media. Instead of us marking the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act with some optimism, it seems race equality is at a tricky crossroads. Tonight, UKip leader Nigel Farage, will claim he’s racially “colour-blind”, and say on Trevor Phillip's Channel 4 documentary 'Things We Won't Say About Race That Are True' that he'll be tearing up Britain’s race equality laws, instead of strengthening them should he come to power...
FILM
Explainer: What Is Systemic Racism And Institutional racism?
At the 2020 BAFTA awards, Joaquin Phoenix called out systemic racism in the film industry in his acceptance speech for leading actor. He said: "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you’re not welcome here. I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from. […] I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural. We have to do really the hard work to truly understand systemic racism." Systemic racism, or institutional racism, refers to how ideas of white superiority are captured in everyday thinking at a systems level: taking in the big picture of how society operates, rather than looking at one-on-one interactions.
(1974) Marlon Brando On Rejecting His Oscar For 'The Godfather': The Dick Cavett Show
Hollywood film star Marlon Brando gives a heart-felt response to why he rejected his 1973 Best Actor award for his performance in 'The Godfather', by speaking about Hollywood racism on and off-screen against AAME people...
HR/DIVERSITY RESOURCES
The Black Report 2020
This online resource provides backgrounds to start-up business founders from AAME (African, Asian, Minority Ethnic) communities, their stories and demographics.
2020 Colour Of Power
A useful at-a-glance database that graphically illustrates the lack of female and AAME (African. Asian, Minority ethnic) representations in the upper echelons across a wide sphere of endeavour. From cabinet makeup, to CEOs of the top 50 NHS trusts, from leaders of London's boroughs to CEOs of the lop advertising agencies.
A useful at-a-glance database that graphically illustrates the lack of female and AAME (African. Asian, Minority ethnic) representations in the upper echelons across a wide sphere of endeavour. From cabinet makeup, to CEOs of the top 50 NHS trusts, from leaders of London's boroughs to CEOs of the lop advertising agencies.
(Aug. 2020) New Code Of Ethics To Govern Award Giving And Progress Towards Greater Board Diversity Announced At The Ivors Academy AGM
Plans to increase diversity on the Academy’s board and create a new code of ethics to review future and past Ivor Novello award decisions were some of the changes announced at the Academy's recent AGM. Two board members have prematurely stepped down for their replacements to make for more diverse board, which has a 50% gender balance and 30% AAME representation target.
(July 2020) The Ivors Academy Announces Draft Twelve-Point Quality, Diversity And Inclusion Action Plan
The Academy has published a draft 2020-2022 action plan to champion and embed equality, diversity and inclusion across the organisation and its work. Majority of the 12 commitments cover organisational targets, with the rest covers the Ivor Novello Awards and partnerships.
(July 2020) Orchestras Signing Up To Diversity Audit To Include More Black And Asian Musicians
40 music organisations drawn from orchestras, conservatoires, education, diversity and youth projects form the first two cohorts to use London Music Masters’ diversity and inclusion audit tool, I'm In, to help music organisations build strategies to dismantle racism and all forms of prejudice and drive systemic change. Click here for more information and to join next cohort.
UK Government's Ethnicity Facts And Figures
87% of people in the UK are White, and 13% belong to a African, Asian, Mixed or Other ethnic group, according to the combined 2011 censuses for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Use this service to find information about the different experiences of people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. It gathers data collected by government in one place, making it available to the public, specialists and charities.
UK Music's Equality And Diversity Hub
This is where you will music industry umbrella organisation UK Music's equality and diversity pages, including the UK Music Diversity Task Force and Reports.
(June 2020) UK Music Workforce Diversity Survey 2020
For all UK music companies, irrespective of size. (2020) For all UK music companies, irrespective of size.The survey tracks progress to boost diversity and inclusion in the UK’s music industry that contributes £5.2 billion a year to the UK economy and sustains 190,000 jobs. UK Music, the umbrella body that represents the commercial music business, said the globally respected survey comes at a crucial time for the industry in the wake of #BlackOutTuesday, #TheShowMustBePaused and protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Note: survey is time specific! Note: survey is time specific!
11 Terms You Should Know To Better Understand Structural Racism
This glossary describes terms related to structural racism and terms used to promote racial equity analysis. It was created by the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change, a group that worked with leading innovators to produce strong and reliable frameworks for successful and sustainable community change and development.
(June 2020) PPL's Equality, Diversity And Inclusion Statement
Music industry body PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) posts its commitment to hiring, developing and promoting the best people, from the widest possible talent pool – regardless of someone’s race, gender, sexuality, age, disability, background or any other characteristic...
Diamond Broadcasting Diversity Resources Hub
Diamond, an industry-wide diversity monitoring system created by the Creative Diversity Network (CDN), UK broadcasters and Pact to provide detailed, consistent and comprehensive monitoring and reporting of diversity in the TV industry - it is a single online system used by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky to obtain consistent diversity data on programmes they commission. Here you find all the Diamond resources.
How To Start Decolonising Your Business
"Decolonising is different from most equality, diversity and inclusion work, asserts," Dr Ricardo Twumasi. Decolonising is not about jumping on the latest PR bandwagon or something companies should pay lip service to. Mindful of this, he proposes four steps that companies can use to start the process of decolonising.
Explainer: What Is Systemic Racism And Institutional racism?
At the 2020 BAFTA awards, Joaquin Phoenix called out systemic racism in the film industry in his acceptance speech for leading actor. He said: "I think that we send a very clear message to people of colour that you’re not welcome here. I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from. […] I think it’s more than just having sets that are multicultural. We have to do really the hard work to truly understand systemic racism." Systemic racism, or institutional racism, refers to how ideas of white superiority are captured in everyday thinking at a systems level: taking in the big picture of how society operates, rather than looking at one-on-one interactions.
10 Rules To Fight For Black People's Freedom
A manifesto that speaks to the different ways to combat racism by BlackLivesMatter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who is an "artist, organizer, and freedom fighter"...
(2014) Diversity Management In The UK Music Industry The Thoughts And Perspectives Of Black Employees
A University Of Westminster/Music Tank Future Think research document by Tamara Witt which sought to assess inequalities for AAME people working in the UK music industry...
(2011) Bain - Attitudes of Employers in the UK Music Industry Towards Equality and Diversity
Former BASCA CEO Vick Bain's Henley Business School research, which was an attempt to map the music industry's engagement with diversity, which did not receive the traction it deserved in effecting structural changes...
LAW/HISTORY
The Mayor of London and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants brought together experts, campaigners and community groups in London to talk about the ongoing campaign for justice for the Commonwealth and Windrush generation...
(June 2020) Britain’s Slave Owner Compensation Loan, Reparations And Tax Havenry
According to the Treasury, British taxpayers finished ‘paying off’ the debt which the British government incurred in order to compensate British enslavers as per the 1833 Abolition Act. It was more than the £20m often quoted...
A BBM News Release: Where Is Britain 50 Years After Enacting Its First Race Relations Act? which highlights the launch of our documentary DVD 'Look How Far We've Come Community Talk & Racism', which marks the 50 years since the enactment of UK's first Race Relations Act, by providing viewpoints drawn from a wide cross-section of British's multicultural society. Interviewees include some of those whose work led to the Act: Bristol Bus Boycott leader Paul Stephenson OBE, Labour Society Of Lawyers member Ian Macdonald QC, WISC (West Indian Standing Conference) executive Clarence Thompson MBE; some of those who helped draft, or vote for the Act, such as Labour Society Of Lawyers member Lord Anthony Lester QC, and Labour politician Tony Benn. Contributors also include launch event special guest Dame Jocelyn Barrow, whose work as a CARD (Campaign Against Racial Discrimination) co-founder, led to the 1968 amendment of the Act...
EDUCATION
(June 2020) Tackling Racism Has To Be A Priority For Universities, Forum Told
Leading academics urge universities must put as much effort into equality and diversity strategies as they do into other areas...
(June 2020) White Academics Told To Support Real Change On Race
Deborah Gabriel argues for an imposition of financial penalties on universities that fail to tackle pay gaps, and for European lecturers to show solidarity with AAME colleagues for pay equity...
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