Martyn Ware used his acceptance speech at the BASCA Gold Badge Awards ceremony yesterday to urge the music industry to encourage ethnic diversity and support the next generation of creators.
The Heaven 17 member and Human League founder was one of twelve individuals to receive an award, and said during his speech: 'There’s not enough ethnic diversity in this room. We need more of that.
'We need to encourage more young people to join these kinds of organisations [BASCA] so we can refresh our ideas. Education is super important.'
Discussing the changes in the industry, he said he was fortunate to have grown up in a time where 'record companies were actually signing people because artists were doing something creative and innovative' but expressed his fears that the industry is 'losing that now'.
'We’re much more market driven, the pie is getting smaller. We are known in Britain for being innovators in music. If we lose that, we lose everything,' he said.
Known for his contribution to electronic music and for being one of his generations’ most culturally significant musicians, Ware has produced artists including Tina Turner, Terence Trent D’Arby, Chaka Khan, Erasure and Marc Almond.
He is a trustee for the charity Street Sports Hope in Sierra Leone and was recently appointed as principal of Tileyard Education, which he said is, 'looking at new ways of not just churning out a load of people who want to get involved in the industry but don’t have jobs.'
Gary Crosby OBE, Susanna Eastburn and Emeli Sandé MBE were also honoured at the ceremony.
The annual event is organised by BASCA and sponsored by PPL and PRS for Music.
The Heaven 17 member and Human League founder was one of twelve individuals to receive an award, and said during his speech: 'There’s not enough ethnic diversity in this room. We need more of that.
'We need to encourage more young people to join these kinds of organisations [BASCA] so we can refresh our ideas. Education is super important.'
Discussing the changes in the industry, he said he was fortunate to have grown up in a time where 'record companies were actually signing people because artists were doing something creative and innovative' but expressed his fears that the industry is 'losing that now'.
'We’re much more market driven, the pie is getting smaller. We are known in Britain for being innovators in music. If we lose that, we lose everything,' he said.
Known for his contribution to electronic music and for being one of his generations’ most culturally significant musicians, Ware has produced artists including Tina Turner, Terence Trent D’Arby, Chaka Khan, Erasure and Marc Almond.
He is a trustee for the charity Street Sports Hope in Sierra Leone and was recently appointed as principal of Tileyard Education, which he said is, 'looking at new ways of not just churning out a load of people who want to get involved in the industry but don’t have jobs.'
Gary Crosby OBE, Susanna Eastburn and Emeli Sandé MBE were also honoured at the ceremony.
The annual event is organised by BASCA and sponsored by PPL and PRS for Music.
