PRS for Music has revealed the company-wide activity taking place throughout Black History Month 2020, October 1 – 31.
Dedicated to celebrating the profound influence of Black songwriters and composers, October will see the Performers Right Society producing a special virtual edition of PRS Presents in collaboration with PRS Foundation, Guest Editor takeovers on M Magazine and much more.
PRS Presents Black History Month will be taking place at 7pm on Thursday 22 October and will feature a series of performances alongside short documentary-style interviews.
British singer and musician Rhoda Dakar will delve into the history of Brixton’s underground club scene. Listen to Eddie Capone talk about the phenomenal impact the Windrush generation had on shaping Black music and culture in Britain. Kwaku, founder of British Black Music and Black Music Congress, will bring to life the history of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the world-famous Black British classical composer and activist whose plight led to the creation of the Performing Right Society in the early 20th century.
Ferocious Management and Cr8ing Vision founder, Kwame Kwaten, will shine a light on the vital work grassroot organisations are doing across the UK to support creativity, instigate change and promote equality and equity within the music industry. Girls I Rate, Small Green Shoots and People Dem Collective are just some of those organisations transforming emerging talent into successful careers and will feature in PRS Presents Black History Month.
Artists performing include PRS Foundation supported Grammy nominee Yola, producer and Boy Better Know member Frisco and saxophonist Nubya Garcia, alongside Ivor Novello award-winner Mysie, rapper and singer Jelani Blackman.
Each week in October, M magazine will feature special guest editors. Award-winning singer-songwriter, lecturer and PRS Foundation Trustee Michelle Escoffery, will pay tribute to Black women in music and share her experience as a PRS Council Member driving change across the industry.
Throughout the month, PRS will also spotlight emerging talent across its social media channels, and feature a series of specially curated playlists, connecting the dots between Black music history and those renowned voices that continue to empower the future generation of music creators.
Andrea C. Martin, chief executive , PRS for Music, said: ‘While PRS for Music is proud to celebrate its diverse membership all year round, Black History Month is an important opportunity to pause and pay homage to the Black music community, past, present and future – who inspire and influence us daily. PRS for Music’s celebration of Black History Month is part of a much bigger picture as we continue to listen, evolve and improve as an organisation, not just this October, but into the future.’
PRS Presents Black History Month will take place online on PRS for Music’s YouTube channel, from 7pm on Thursday 22 October.