What’s the value of Black Music to the wider music industry? A new report by UK Music has put a figure on that for the UK in its ‘Black Music Means Business‘ report.
The study estimates that across the last 30 years, Black music has contributed £24.5bn out of a total £30bn UK market – 80% of the total.
This is a serious piece of work, not least because it had to start by defining what Black Music is – “Music that has its roots and inspiration derived from the culture, beliefs, traditions and history of Black people and the African diaspora” – and then how to map it across genres.
“Black Music has shaped the sound and global success of British music for decades, yet its true commercial value has never been fully recognised,” said Paulette Long OBE, vice chair of UK Music’s diversity taskforce. “This report makes clear that its contribution is undeniable.”
Did you guess that there is a ‘but’ coming? There is. Despite the value quantified in the report, it also warns that there is an “opportunity gap” in the industry, with equity and representation still falling short.
“Despite the extraordinary success of Black Music in the UK, many Black Music professionals and creators face systemic financial inequalities, earning less than their non-Black counterparts and often requiring supplementary income to sustain their careers,” as the report puts it. But it has constructive ideas to change this situation too.
“The report shares recommended practical actions that are an opportunity to work collaboratively to help close inequities, unlock further growth and work to ensure the UK music industry is fair and reflective of the rich diversity of the talent that powers it,” noted Eunice Obianagha, head of diversity at UK Music.
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