British Library and University of Westminster announce major research collaboration into black British music 11 Jan 2022
Today the British Library and University of Westminster announce a new partnership to develop a landmark exhibition exploring the history of black British music.
The exhibition will open at the British Library in 2024, charting and reframing the evolution and influence of black British musical innovation, cultures and creativity on popular music. The British Library has already begun researching the Library’s rich collections alongside the University of Westminster’s Black Music Research Unit, to foreground and reposition six centuries of African musical contributions to the UK.
This major collaborative undertaking will soon move beyond the national collections to engage with the music industry and broader public in a national conversation on black British identity through the medium of music. Previously overlooked narratives will be collected to celebrate an inclusive culture and musical history.
Mykaell Riley, Director for The Black Music Research Unit and Principal Investigator for Bass Culture Research at the University of Westminster, said: ‘We cannot change the past, but we can use history to impact the present and influence the future. This exhibition will offer unique opportunities to explore the library's vast collections and other public and private collections, alongside music industry data, allowing us to rethink black music contributions to British history, culture, and popular music.’
Janet Topp Fargion, Head of Sound and Vision at the British Library, said: ‘It is hugely important and exciting to be working with the Black Music Research Unit at the University of Westminster. The partnership will surface content within the British Library and in community collections across the country to ensure it is discoverable and accessible for everyone into the future.’
The exhibition will build on the Bass Culture research project by the Black Music Research Unit at the University of Westminster, which aimed to define black British music and explore its historical and cultural significance over six decades. It was the first major study of the history and impact of Jamaican influenced music in the UK and involved locating, capturing and preserving memories, experiences and ephemera from three generations of musicians, music industry participants, and audience members. It focused on London's black community and the overlooked impact of their contributions to British popular music and, more broadly, to the British way of life.
The British Library is custodian of one of the biggest repositories of sound and audiovisual recordings in the world, containing more than 7 million sound recordings on over 40 different formats. It is custodian of one of the largest and most wide-ranging collections of popular music in the world, from commercial releases, interviews and live performances across all eras and genres to magazines, fanzines and books.
Join the Library’s mailing list or follow the Sound and Vision blog for updates on the collaboration.
NEWS & PRESS
Miriam Yeung joins Warner Music China
Warner Music China announced today that Miriam Yeung, one of Greater China’s biggest stars, has joined its roster. Miriam has an impressive music career spanning nearly three decades. She is one of the region’s most recognised and accomplished recording artist, having...more
Over 100 UK festivals commit to tackling sexual violence
Boomtown Fair, Boardmasters, Reading & Leeds, Bluedot, Parklife and Shambala among signatories of AIF's Safer Spaces Campaign Includes updated Charter of Best Practice, plus new awareness and education campaign Find out more: https://aiforg.com/initiatives/safer-spaces 103 UK festivals have committed to The Association of Independent Festivals'...more
Beatport Launches “Beatport Sounds†Offering Signature Sound Packs and Exclusive Samples from the World’s Leading Producers
Beatport, the global leader of music for DJs, producers, and their fans, announced today the launch of the Beatport Sounds imprint - a return to offering audio content from inspiring producers for producers, with all content exclusive to Loopcloud. With the...more
Abbey Road Studios announce the winners from this year's inaugural Music Photography Awards
THE AWARDS CELEBRATE THE UNFORGETTABLE, UNIQUE AND UNSUNG MUSIC IMAGES OF 2021 LINK TO WINNING IMAGES Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most famous recording studio has tonight confirmed the winners from its inaugural Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards 2022 in association...more
Mom+Pop Music and Exceleration Music agree to strategic financial alliance
Label continues to expand scope of operations and artist signings Leading independent record label mom+pop music and Exceleration Music, the venture led by industry leaders for investing in the future of independent labels and artists, have agreed to a strategic financial alliance. This provides mom+pop...more
One Media IP puts in first bid for Pink Floyd catalogue
One Media iP Group has made a formal offer for a stake in Pink Floyd's back catalogue, which was announced for sale this week. The AIM-listed UK digital music publisher and content acquirer has offered £3.5m for a 1% stake in the legendary catalogue. If...more
MMF publishes ambitious three-step $ong Royalties Manifesto
MMF publishes ambitious three-step $ong Royalties Manifesto to overhaul how songwriters and composers are paid when their work is streamed #glassboxnotblackbox Writers should receive payment with two months of their compositions being played New commitments needed to capture and standardise song data,...more
Reservoir continues to execute against emerging markets growth strategy
Company Announces Deals with Arab Superstar Mohamed Ramadan and Egyptian Label 100COPIES, in Conjunction with PopArabia Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR), an award-winning independent music company, in conjunction with PopArabia, the leading music publisher and independent music company in the Middle...more
Ashley Gorley Signs Global Deal with Sony Music Publishing and Domain Capital Group
Worldwide agreement covers renowned songwriter’s entire catalog and future works Sony Music Publishing today announced it has signed a global deal with award-winning songwriter Ashley Gorley, in partnership with Domain Capital Group. The agreement encompasses Gorley’s complete catalog of songs, as...more
Distiller Music Group Announces Publishing Agreement with Downtown Music Services
Claire Bianchi Joins Distiller Publishing as Head of A&R Major European Hit ‘In The Dark’ Provides Great Start to New Relationship London based independent music company Distiller Music Group has announced a new agreement for its music publishing division with Downtown Music Services, which offers bespoke distribution,...more
ABBA Voyage and Wallenius form sustainable partnership
The Swedish shipping company Wallenius, developer of the Oceanbird concept for wind powered vessels, has been confirmed as the official partner for ABBA Voyage. At the revolutionary new concert opening in London on 27th May, ABBA will perform as digital avatars. “It is extremely pleasing to...more
Downtown’s found.ee launches landmark premium video advertising tool
- One-of-a-kind tool will ‘revolutionize the ad-buying landscape’ says founder, Jason Hobbs - Clients currently using the new video tool include Aloe Blacc, Brooklyn Bowl, Sylvan Esso and Andrew Bird- Artists and clients across all of Downtown’s divisions – including...more
Epidemic Sound Launches AI Audio-Based Search Tool on Google Cloud
Epidemic Audio Reference (EAR) tool developed on Google Cloud will simplify and supercharge music discovery for content creators worldwide Latest update to strategic partnership, aimed to support the company's rapid growth Epidemic Sound, the market-leading service for direct licensing of royalty-free music, today announced...more
Stef Teng has been appointed to the newly created role of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Asia, at Warner Music Group (WMG)
Stef Teng has been appointed to the newly created role of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Asia, at Warner Music Group (WMG). She will be based in Hong Kong and report to Dr Maurice Stinnett, WMG’s Global Head...more
Hipgnosis response to Queen’s Speech announcement of draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill
Merck Mercuriadis, Chief Executive and Founder of Hipgnosis Song Management, said: “Today’s announcement in the Queen’s Speech to bring forward the legal framework for the statutory Digital Markets Unit is a huge opportunity to redress the current imbalance in the...more
KINGSHIP, NFT Supergroup signed to 10:22PM, to Offer Virtual Key Cards that Unlock Virtual World, Experiences, Products and Music
The Collection of 10,000 Access-Enabled Key Cards Available to Mint on Saturday, May 14 KINGSHIP, the supergroup signed to 10:22PM, will release a collection of 10,000 access-enabled Key Cards in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that will allow collectors to...more
Concord Music Publishing signs global superstar Davido
Announces Joint Partnership with Immensum Music, Expands West African Market Today, Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of billion streamed Afrobeats icon Davido. The award-winning American-born Nigerian global superstar joined the roster through a new creative partnership with Koch Okoye and Saheed Okunnu’s Immensum Music. This new...more
NTIA Comment on the Queens Speech
Mike Kill NTIA CEO says:"Today’s Queen’s Speech had important aspects but is still a missed opportunity as far as the Night Time Economy is concerned. We welcome the announcement of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which the Government hopes...more
Warner Chappell Music sign singer-songwriter and film composer Daniel Blumberg
Blumberg Is Nominated For Best Original Film Score At This Year’s Ivor Novellos Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has signed a worldwide publishing deal with singer, songwriter, film composer and visual artist Daniel Blumberg. Blumberg’s first...more
Music fans care more about climate change and want the music industry to do more on the issue
‘Turn Up The Volume’ survey from Music Declares Emergency and the University of Glasgow with lead partner the BPI, and partners Beggars Group, Secretly Group, Involved Group and Key Production reports findings Music fans are most likely to care about climate...more
Laura Lukanz to join Amazon Music as Head of Music Industry, UK, Australia & New Zealand
Amazon Music today announce that Laura Lukanz will join the company as Head of Music Industry, UK, Australia & New Zealand on 30th May. In her new role, Lukanz will be responsible for leading the UK, Australia & New Zealand...more
Three Six Zero Announces Partnership With Craig Dorfman’s Frontline Entertainment
Three Six Zero have announced a new partnership with Frontline Entertainment. The New York based talent company, headed up by Craig Dorfman, will join Three Six Zero’s growing international management and entertainment company with Dorfman bringing his clients and management team...more
PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation bring OnTrack to The Great Escape
- OnTrack networking and educational hub will feature panels and in-conversations with some of the brightest PRS Foundation supported UK talent - In-conversation with PPL Momentum Music Fund supported Yard Act hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq - Exclusive live performance...more
Abbey Road Studios announce the shortlist for this year’s inaugural Music Photography Awards
THE AWARDS WILL CELEBRATE THE UNFORGETTABLE, UNIQUE AND UNSUNG MUSIC IMAGES OF 2021 AWARDS CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE ON 14TH MAY AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most famous recording studio has today announced the shortlist nominations for the inaugural Abbey...more
Paul Bonham promoted by MMF to the role of Professional Development Director and Anneliese Harmon announced as GM
The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has today announced a number of team changes to better serve the professional development of its expanded community of over 1,200 UK-based music managers, by the promotion of Paul Bonham to the role of Professional...more
Knucks named as YouTube Music’s next Artist On The Rise
‘Die Hard’, his new collab with Stormzy, is out now - watch the video here Track features on his newly released project ‘Alpha Place’ - listen here Today YouTube Music names Knucks as the next talent in their Artist On The Rise series, which...more
Reservoir expands relationship with Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Dan the Automator via new publishing deal
Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR) (“Reservoir” or the “Company”), an award-winning independent music company, today announced a worldwide publishing deal with Dan Nakamura, professionally known as Dan the Automator, a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter.The new deal includes Nakamura’s catalog and...more
UTA Music: Hear This
UTA has announced a new curated live series, Hear This, launching at The Grace in London on Tuesday 10th May 2022. The inaugural event showcases women in R&B and Soul, and features the talented Claudia Valentina, Menlia and Tolü Makay. With...more
Universal Music Group signs Ghanaian artist Stonebwoy to the global Def Jam artist family
Universal Music Group (UMG) label divisions Def Jam Recordings, 0207 Def Jam and Def Jam Africa are thrilled to announce the global signing of Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and beloved reggae musician and pioneer, Stonebwoy to the global Def Jam artist...more
Rupinder Virdee appointed Head of PR, Marketing & Digital of PRS for Music
PRS for Music is pleased to announce that Rupinder Virdee has been appointed Head of PR, Marketing & Digital. Reporting into Director of Communications and Public Affairs, John Mottram, Rupinder will be pivotal to the company’s future plans and implementation of strategic marketing and communications that advance...more
THE HEADLINES
UK success at Eurovision 2022 (see Features, Showbiz, Live)
What does the #CryptoCrash mean for web3 and music? (see Comment)
Managers report delay in visas for performers wanting to enter UK (see News)
BMG and Warner Music bidding to buy Pink Floyd’s catalogue (see Deals)
MMF: "What is currently an opaque black box of song royalties, needs to be transformed into a glass box" (see Opinion)
MMF publishes Song Royalties Manifesto (see News)
Girl bands made British pop great – so where have all the good ones gone? (see Features)
More on myth that 60,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify daily (see Analysis)
Travel limits on international music tours to be eased (see News)
Music industry earnings 2021: Riding the wave (see Analysis)
Copyright Royalty Board asked to approve 32% increase on mechanical royalties (see International)
Streaming is not the future of the music economy (see Opinion)
Research confirms the majors benefit most from Spotify's curated playlists (see Analysis)
Report: Women in Music 2022 (see Analysis)
Why did #MeToo bypass the music industry? (see Opinion)
SoundCloud acquires Musiio (see Digital)
How TikTok’s evolution can help artists grow (see Analysis)
Black women are finding their voice against abuse in the music industry (see Comment)
Spotify shares now selling at less than the IPO price four years ago (see Analysis)