PRS for Music celebrates Black History Month 2020
Nubya Garcia, Eddie Capone, Frisco, Yola, Mysie and many more come together as part of the celebrations
Join PRS for Music in celebrating Black History Month with activity taking place throughout October. Dedicated to the significant influence Black songwriters and composers have in the music we know and love today; from artist and producer spotlights, to guest editor takeovers in M magazine, and a special virtual edition of PRS Presents in collaboration with PRS Foundation, legendary pioneers and thinkers from the Black community will come together alongside music creators.
As well as exclusive performances, PRS Presents Black History Month, taking place at 7pm on Thursday 22 October, will also feature a series of short documentary-style interviews. Hear from British singer and musician Rhoda Dakar, who 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 on the day 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, with more to be announced soon.
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 October, PRS for Music will 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.
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.
Thursday 22 October | 7pm BST
PRS Presents Black History Month. Watch here
1 – 31 October | Twitter and Instagram
Emerging Talent Spotlights
Follow Twitter here.
Follow Instagram here.
1 – 31 October | M magazine
Weekly Special Guest Editors. Read here.
1 – 31 October | Spotify playlists
Celebrating Black History Month 2020. Listen here.
About PRS for Music
Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public.
For 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com
