“The music landscape in the UK has been significantly impacted by Black artistry and the genres that have emerged from its communities.
Elevating the voices of the Black artists and music professionals who contribute to the UK’s music economy will be central to our approach. We are thrilled to be leading the research for this hugely important study.”
Wendy Cave
We are delighted to announce that UK Music has commissioned Counterculture as its research partner in delivering a groundbreaking report, ‘Full Diversity, Full Return: Assessing the Economic Impact of Black British Music’.
This study will be the first of its kind measuring the economic, and in turn the cultural impact of Black British music over the last twenty-five years.
UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. It represents all sectors of the industry – bringing them together to Collaborate, Campaign, and Champion music. The UK Music Board is made up of representatives from ten music industry trade bodies, who collectively represent most of the music industry. These trade bodies include The Association of Independent Music (AIM), The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), The Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), The Ivors Academy, Music Managers Forum (MMF), Music Publishers Association (MPA), Music Producers Guild (MPG), Musicians Union (MU), PPL, and PRS for Music.
UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce is an initiative established by UK Music to champion diversity and inclusivity across all sectors of the music business. It actively seeks to identify areas that lack representation and implements measures to ensure that individuals, regardless of their background, gender, race, or other characteristics, have equal opportunities to thrive. Through collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders, the Taskforce aims to create an environment where talent is recognised and nurtured without bias, ensuring the UK music scene reflects its diverse population.
In addition, this report will be delivered in partnership with much of the wider UK music industry.
Counterculture is an international multi-disciplinary consultancy providing specialist professional services across arts and culture in strategy, research, policy, governance, management, stakeholder consultation, finance, HR, EDI, law, and capital projects. We work in the third, cultural and public sectors and not-for-profit organisations and have specialist experience in the music industry and creative economy.
The project team will be led by Counterculture Partner Wendy Cave who will also oversee stakeholder engagement. UK Music and the Counterculture team are committed to ensuring the voices of Black British artists and music professionals run deep through this work, ensuring the stories of the Black British music community are told. This peer-reviewed report will build a renewed and inclusive understanding of Black British music – led and informed by key stakeholders – defining its commercial and cultural impacts and celebrating its deep roots, rich history and ongoing legacy. It will highlight the barriers still faced by Black British artists and music professionals and make recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable music industry.
Project Team
Wendy Cave
Wendy brings a valuable perspective to this project with over fifteen years of music industry experience, including executive level roles at major labels. Wendy began her career at Gilles Peterson’s seminal Talkin’ Loud record label (Roni Size & Reprazent, Young Disciples, Krust, 4hero, Terry Callier, Saul Williams, Carl Craig, Courtney Pine, Femi Kuti, Incognito, Omar, Cleveland Watkiss etc) and has worked with some of the biggest artists and brands in the entertainment world. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Psychotherapy, with a focus on supporting Black mental health in the music industry. She sits on an Inclusion and Diversity process group for MITC (Music Industry Therapists Collective) and is mentored by BAATN (the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network).
Vick Bain
Vick is a diversity in music researcher, consultant and campaigner and has worked in the music industry for over twenty-five years including six years as the CEO at the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (now known as The Ivors Academy) and also one year as the President of the Independent Society of Musicians. In addition, she is the Founder of The F-List for Music CIC, supporting women and gender diverse musicians across all music genres and through which she helped establish the Gender in Music Research Hub. Motivated by a strong sense of social justice, Vick is undertaking a PhD at the Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity at Queen Mary University London. Vick is also a Henley Business School MBA graduate.
Natasha Hendry
Following in the footsteps of her father who was a musician in the 1970s Black British music scene, Natasha has thirty years’ experience working in the mainstream music industry as a professional vocalist. Her experience has included live, recorded and TV work, and she has toured globally as a featured singer. In her academic and research career, Natasha’s area of interest is anti-racism and promoting mental health awareness in music and the arts. She holds a BSc and a Masters in Music Psychology, and is a PhD candidate at the University of West London researching racial inequalities in UK music education. She is one of very few academics addressing this under-researched area.
Tara Tank
Tara specialises in research and policy development for culture, the creative industries and the night-time economy, with a strong track record in music. Before joining Counterculture Tara worked for Sound Diplomacy, consulting on music strategies, policy proposals, capital projects and economic impact. She has worked on music and cultural strategies around the world including San Francisco, New Orleans, the London Borough of Croydon, Tees Valley, Essex, Neath Port Talbot and Belfast. In 2021, she was the research lead on an England-wide market assessment of music studios for DCMS, informing government policy. Tara is currently working with the Creative Industries Council on the delivery of the UK Creative Industries Sector Vision.
Deyton Bell: Neil Darwin, Sophie Satchell
Deyton Bell is a consultancy firm providing support on economic growth and development. Their expertise includes creating evidence-based strategies, working with public, private, and the non-profit sectors, providing tailored solutions to address various economic and business challenges. Neil is Chief Economist, and has experience delivering complex, multiple stakeholder projects. Sophie specialises in research and analysis with a particular focus on working with data to explore, develop and implement strategic economic and sustainability initiatives.
Illy Jaffar
Illy is an award winning senior marketing and communications leader. While at Pernod Ricard, Illy was responsible for global partnerships such as Ne-Yo and Malibu, and Triangulo Oscuro and Havana Club. He was part of the team that brokered the now legendary partnership with XFM. Illy will bring audience, brand and trend insights alongside commercial expertise from the music and entertainment sectors.
