Despite the prevalence of Black artists and performers, beyond the stages and behind the scenes, there is still a significant lack of diversity in the music industry.
The UK Music 2020 Diversity Report found that only 7.8% of the music industry workforce surveyed identified as Black.
In a survey conducted by PRS Foundation, out of 400 Black applicants 78% said they had experienced racism within the music industry.
Tellingly, 90% agreed that there is a lack of visibility of Black industry professionals in senior roles, and 69% agreed that music funding is less accessible for Black talent.
It seems there is an inherent disconnect between the talent we see on the stages and in the music videos and who actually holds the power within the industry. Ben Wynter, co-founder of Power Up an organisation aiming to tackle in equality in music, says this disconnect has lead to anti-Black racism in the industry.
‘There has been a history of Black talent in front of the cameras and on the stage, where people are happy for them to perform, but then they’re managed by non-Black people or people from outside the culture, with the understanding that they are dictating how they should present their Blackness to the world,’ Ben tells Metro.co.uk.
‘That is something that has happened historically, and it is something that continues to happen.
‘Labels have a history of using unfair practices towards their Black talent, ripping people off, not paying them what they are owed, taking away their power.’
This is what Ben and the team at Power Up are trying to change.
Power Up is a new long-term initiative designed and led by more than 80 Black music professionals, aimed at supporting 40 Black music creators and industry professionals every year with grants and industry-wide support as well as addressing anti-Black racism and disparities in the music sector.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer, #TheShowMustBePausedUK in June 2020 led to more open discussions within music, which brought to light the many barriers that Black talent face – including structural and systemic racism, prejudice in the workplace, marginalisation, economic inequality, and inequitable financial benefit.
To bring about meaningful and lasting change, Ben says public solidarity is not enough. It must be followed by commitments, accountability and action.
‘Now is the time for more than just solidarity,’ says Ben. ‘Solidarity is great, but now it’s about action. What are you actually going to do to affect change? It’s important to understand that not everybody has the answer to that. They might have great intentions, but they don’t have the answer.
‘We are hoping that we can engage with these organisations. We will say to them, “Okay, you want to achieve this, let us help you”.’
Ben explained that he was currently trying to help a Black manager receive the money owed after a big rap artist was unlawfully taken away from him by one of the big music labels. He says this kind of thing happens all the time.
‘We want to stamp out these kinds of practices, but we also want labels to acknowledge what they have done wrong in the past,’ says Ben. ‘We want them to understand that these unfair practices have been in place for a long time, and to go back and look at all of their old contracts and amend them to make sure that they are fair towards Black talent that they have been ripping off. We want them to make sure that inequality no longer exists.’
Ben says that on the creative side of the music industry, it has been statistically proven that Black talent receives less support than their non-Black counterparts, but behind the scenes, there has also been a historical glass ceiling for Black executives.
‘When we first launched Power Up, I received a phone call from a young man who expressed that for the first time, he had hope about the future of his career,’ he says. ‘Because every time he has applied for a role, he has never able to move upwards, he has only able to move horizontally.
‘Access into music industry is really easy at entry level for Black people. But once you get into senior management levels, it drops down to like 7%. Now, that’s the problem. There’s a massive 35% drop off. So you have to look at why that is.
‘The aim of Power Up is to try to ensure that we create an equal society. And for those working on the executive level, it’s to help power them up to the next level.’
Ben says the picture is improving and there have been developments in recent years, largely thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of certain individuals who have found ways to create space for Black people in the industry to thrive. But he says this shouldn’t be the only option for people who want a career in music.
‘You shouldn’t have to go up become an entrepreneur in order to do the job that you can bring a skill-set to,’ he adds. ‘You should be able to be judged on whether you can do that job or not. Not whether your face fits, or you’re if you’re too dark or not white enough.
‘So, I don’t think the answer should be that we have to build our own spaces. I think inclusivity is something that has to increase – across the board.
‘Right now, when you look at the music industry, and you look at behind the scenes, and see who is actually doing what, it is shocking to see the numbers, the lack of diversity. It is shocking that people are being overlooked, that people are being treated unfairly. It is shocking that people have to be something that they are not, or do something that doesn’t sit right with them, in order to fit in.’
Black applicants can apply to be a Power Up participant until March 10th.
How can Power Up help?
Power Up aims to break down barriers to create a fairer, more equitable music industry, to achieve better representation in all sectors of the UK music industry, and to amplify the work of Black creators and industry professionals, through two strands, the Power Up Participant Programme and the Power Up Movement.
The Power Up Participant Programme is a long-term network addressing barriers facing 40 Black participants (20 Black music creators and 20 Black executives and industry professionals) each year. Participants will be at crucial career stages, working in any genre or sub-sector, and will be in need of support to progress, powering up through:
- Grant support of up to £15,000
- Capacity building and mentoring
- Support from partners
- Marketing support
In alliance with the Black Music Coalition, the Power Up Movement will set targets and apply industry pressure to increase Black representation, empower and advocate for Black talent and industry professionals, consequently influencing policy and shaping the future of the music.
Power Up Ambassadors include MC and actor Kano; award-winning BBC Presenter and Music Entrepreneur DJ Target; Disturbing London Founder Dumi Oburota; artist Ray Blk; LinkUp TV Founder Rashid Kasirye; and singer-songwriter Sabrina Washington.
The State of Racism
This series is an in-depth look at racism in the UK in 2020 and beyond.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2021/03/09/the-problem-with-anti-black-racism-in-the-music-industry-14205952/
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