More about: Black Lives in Music

Black Lives in Music, an organisation focused on creating safe and easily accessible spaces for Black musicians, has produced the first ever survey for Black creatives to tell of their experiences in the UK music industry. Upon finding that there was absolutely zero data when it came to Black musician’s mental health and wellbeing (despite the obvious, systemic racism rooted deep within the industry), creators Charisse Beaumont and Roger Wilson decided it was time to do something about it, creating and using the data they collect to give creatives the space and opportunity they want and deserve.

Although the duo focus on classical and jazz music, they are encouraging all Black musicians to take part and complete the survey, so that they can collate data annually, which in turn will make a huge change to how we can approach inequality within the industry.

To put this issue into perspective, just 2.1% of conservatoire teaching staff in the UK are of ethnic background - and, whilst 73% of musicians suffer with mental health issues, African Caribbean communities are three times more likely to be diagnosed and admitted to hospital for severe long-term mental health conditions than any other group.

Further, research from Arts Council England showed that ‘of leadership roles occupied by employees at almost 100 of its leading National Portfolio Organisations, only 10% of Chief Executives, 11% of Senior Managers, 11% of Chairs and 15% of board members were from Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) backgrounds.’  

Yet there is, at present, no broad data that addresses this – until now.

BLiM Co-founder Charisse Beaumont told Gigwise how the idea for Black Lives in Music and its survey came to light. “I’ve always been in the music industry, I had a hip-hop label but I decided to take some time out of music and get on the board of HMUK [Help Musicians UK], where I was introduced to the world of classical and jazz music. Through this, my eyes were opened to issues of diversity and inclusion; I had some ideas on what I wanted to do, but never had the opportunity to connect the dots until recently when George Floyd was murdered; it obviously opened the eyes of a lot of music organisations.”

Following this lightbulb moment, Beaumont met her now professional partner Roger Wilson, who she describes as a "fantastic musician and educator", who “at the time worked for a youth orchestra and knew the ins and outs of these issues concerning diversity in that classical and jazz music space.” Together, they came up with the idea of BLiM. They pitched it to the right people and the rest is history.

Beaumont spoke with us at length about social media and how it can be used to further projects such as BLiM as well as tackle racism on a wider scale, citing the new YouTube series A Celebration of Black Music (the first episode of which you can see above) as an example. “Millennials and Generation Z want to see change because of social media; you can’t get away with certain things anymore. However in the music industry, there is structural racism that needs to be rooted out. That’s why we are in the jazz and classical space because although it’s a small space, it’s the hardest, and it’s the one that’s the most overtly visible."

She continues, "We’ve got polarisation in the industry: we have Black orchestras because they can’t get into mainstream educations/institutions, so Black musicians have a space where they feel safe. The issue is grassroots level. As we go up we have to make sure there’s an opportunity for a career for these musicians, so that they can play and thrive just like any other musician, as unfortunately that’s not the case at the moment.”

BLiM, then, will 'support organisations to work towards developing balanced professional ensembles with people of colour, recruitment of Black people representing senior management/board level and programmes, and mentoring and support for the progression of Black musicians into professional ensembles.'

The birth of the organisation and its survey is a big step - and is only going to get bigger from here. There's interest from high profile organisations (yet to be revealed!) Beaumont tell us, and the opportunity to work overseas allowing an even wider reach and the chance for BLiM to broaden their horizons and potentially work within theatre and opera, too.

Black Lives in Music - and its pivotal survey - is such an important tool for Black musicians/creatives. This data will enable issues to be looked at more closely and in turn, create the change that is needed in our industry.

If you are a Black musician or creative, please take part in the survey here.

More about: Black Lives in Music