PRS for Music's Janeace (Jay-T) Thompson has been appointed to the board of Black Lives in Music (BLiM).
Janeace, who is Director of Talent, Culture and Experience at PRS, is among a number of leading UK music executives to be appointed to BLiM's board and taskforce today (20 February).
The organisation was founded in 2020 to address racial inequality in the music industry, as well as create opportunities for Black, Asian and ethnically diverse musicians and professionals. BLiM produced the September 2021 report Being Black in the UK Music Industry, which found that 63% of Black creatives in the industry had experienced direct or indirect racism, while 71% of participants reported experiencing racial microaggressions.
More recently, the organisation announced a 10-Point Orchestra Plan in a bid to create more opportunities for global majority players in orchestras, while a Bullying and Harassment Survey for music industry creatives will be announced soon.
Janeace is joined on the BLiM board by James Joseph (Chair; founder of James Joseph Music Management), Moses Oyediwura (Vice Chair; Sumaya Group investors), Dr Kienda Hoji (music industry lawyer, artist manager, lecturer and multi-instrumentalist) and composer Orphy Robinson MBE.
Speaking about her appointment, Janeace said: 'Black Lives in Music are an incredibly important organisation, setting the tone regarding inequalities for Black, Asian and people from ethnically diverse communities in the music industry. As a newly appointed board member, I embrace the opportunity to amplify voices, compose change, and orchestrate a more inclusive and equitable future for all.'
BLiM's newly-appointed taskforce, meanwhile, comprises of Paulette Long OBE (Music Publisher, Chair of Music Publishers Association), Dr Mykaell Riley (Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster, Director of the Black Music Research Unit, founder member of the band Steel Pulse), Yvette Griffith OBE (Chief Executive and Executive Director of Jazz: Refreshed), Kate Miguda (violinist, board member of National Youth Orchestra of Scotland), trombonist Richard Henry, Sons of Kemet's Shabaka Hutchings, Adem Holness FRSA (Head of Contemporary Music - Southbank Centre), Faryal Khan-Thompson (SVP of Marketing and Community Engagement at CD Baby), Robert Mitchell (Jazz musician and composer), Victor Redwood-Sawyerr (Founder of Red 1 Arts music consultancy), Jamil Sheriff (Jazz Musician and Lecturer) and vocalist, composer and actor Cleveland Watkiss MBE.
BLiM's co-founder and Chief Executive Charisse Beaumont said in a statement: 'We are thrilled to welcome our new board and taskforce to Black Lives in Music. We are consistently expanding our activities and campaigns, ultimately with an aim of making the UK music industry a safe and equal place to work.
'Our collective strength lies not only in our leadership across music, charity, legal, finance, people and culture, education, but also in our unparalleled prowess in business and entrepreneurship. Yet our quest for exceptional leaders continues as we seek to expand our influence across the music sector. The sort of experience and influence that these talented individuals bring to us will be invaluable for projects like our Anti-Racism Code Of Conduct, 10-Point Orchestral Plan and the forthcoming Bullying and Harassment Survey.
'Our dedication stems from a deep-seated care for the music industry and it's future. At Black Lives in Music, we're not just challenging the industry, we're redefining it.'
You can find out more about Black Lives in Music here.
