In spite of continued racism within the music industry highlighted by this week’s Black Lives in Music (BLiM) report, most young artists are determined not to let that get in their way.
Twenty three-year-old Hackney rapper Pocaa – from The Rap Game UK – told Rising East reporter Mamie Mboob that regardless of the report she is “… coming for everything I was told I couldn’t have and every door that closed. I’m coming back to buy the whole building…”
This week’s BLiM report declared that 86% of all Black music creators agree “that there are barriers to progression.” This number rises to 89% for black women, and 91% for Black creators who are disabled, amongst other findings.
On its website BLiM describes itself as an organisation “made up of a number of partners who are all working towards the same goal: to dismantle structural racism in our industry.”
The music creators quoted in the BliM report include Raye, Alexandra Burke, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Beverley Knight, Sugababes’ Keisha Buchanan and Mis-Teeq’s Sabrina Washington. All say they have been on the receiving end of various forms of inequitable treatment during their careers.
Tinie Tempah also spoke out this week, telling the Press Association, “I would say the internet has made it easier for anyone to become an artist, but once you’re navigating the industry the world is still a racist place…”
The report’s recommendations for improving the situation include government-run workshops and educational programmes; and more private investment into grassroots music education.
The conclusions also call for an anti-racism support service and helpline for creators and professionals who experience racism in the music industry.
But meanwhile artists such as Pocaa refuse to be pessimistic. “It’s a working process. But I am going to get there and change the game regardless of what perspective people may have”.
The full report is available here: https://blim.org.uk/report/
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