FEATURE:
Black History Month 2025
IMAGE CREDIT: Black Music Coalition
The Remarkable and Vital Black Music Coalition
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I realise I have not posted…
as much as I should for Black History Month. As October is about celebrating and spotlighting Black heritage and culture, it is perfect to focus that to music. I wanted to use this feature to react to interviews and articles Music Week recently shared regarding the Black Music Coalition. Now in its fourth year, the Black Music Coalition’s Excellence Honourees initiative recognises emerging talent changing the industry. I am going to get to what Music Week published, as on this Black History Month, it is important to spotlight the brilliant work that the Black Music Coalition do. I am going to share a bit of background about them before moving on:
“The Black Music Coalition (BMC) is a Black led organisation created in June 2020, in the wake of #TheShowMustBePaused and the parallel movement in the UK, #TheShowMustBePausedUK, at a time when a spotlight had been cast on anti-Black systemic racism in the world causing Black executives in the UK music industry to look inwards at the industry and to reflect upon their shared experiences of racism and discrimination as Black execs. The commonalities of those experiences informed the creation of our organisation and its goals.
The BMC is dedicated to eradicating racial inequality and establishing equality and equity for Black executives, artists and their communities within the UK Music Industry. The organisation currently consists of an executive committee formed of Black professionals either working in or affiliated to the UK music industry, as well as a wider committee also formed of Black music industry professionals.
On Monday 8th June 2020 an open letter was sent out by the BMC to the music industry community setting out our stance, that “for far too long, the global Black community have faced racial injustice, inequality and disenfranchisement across all aspects of society and [that] here in the UK, [it was] no different”. In that letter we set out our calls to action and made it clear that, we wanted actualise to the shows of support we’d seen from #BlackOutTuesday and to drive forward tangible changes in the industry. We then set about formulating the long-term objectives of the organisation which we set out in our manifesto which released to the industry and all interested parties in September 2020”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Sheryl Nwosu
In the first feature, Black Music Coalition’s Chair, Sheryl Nwosu, introduces this year’s awesome Honourees and reflects on the impact and importance of the project. I am quite new to the work they do and what they are about. That is on me, and I should have discovered them and shared everything I could. Having read about them in the newest edition of Music Week, it has been eye-opening and rewarding learning more about them and their Honourees list:
“As the BMC started looking towards the fourth year of our Excellence Honourees awards, the team and I sat down and reflected that we were also coming up to our fifth birthday as an organisation. It was an opportune pit-stop to take stock of not just who would make the longlist of potential Honourees, but also what we wanted to celebrate by continuing these awards, which have now become a staple in our year.
When we created the BMC, we didn’t know the road that lay ahead. In 2020, at the flashpoint of Blackout Tuesday, we, along with many others, were all resolutely passionate about what would become our overarching cause, namely the eradication of anti-Black racism in the music industry. But for the BMC specifically, it was also about creating a space where Black music executives – and supporting, celebrating and recognising their experiences – would be the primary focus. Through each year since, we’ve remained steadfast in ensuring that Black music, Black creatives and execs remain at the centre of what we do.
This five-year point was also a moment to look at the industry and all the names put forward to us with a bit of a retrospective lens on. Through the nominations, our observations and discussions, the word ‘despite’ continuously came up. As we talked and counted votes, we realised that these execs were excelling despite the difficulties facing various areas of the industry. Their passion remained and, through their work, it shone through.
And so it was with this in mind that this year’s Honourees were selected: these execs were lauded for pressing forward despite obstacles, creating their own spaces and in turn their own successes despite notable downturns, and it is fair to say that our final picks really stood out in this respect.
This year’s Honourees embody excellence, resilience, creativity and transformation, and so it’s with a real sense of pride that we honour them. In my view, they represent the very best of the talent the UK music industry has in its ranks: diverse, dynamic, innovative, sharp and community minded – and those are just a few of their combined qualities. Between them, they are claiming their own professional space while also making ways for diasporic connections, building and adding to the music industry by cultivating and guiding rising music stars or navigating and solidifying the paths of more seasoned artists. They are creating organisations which are unapologetic in their aim to highlight and importantly respect the culture whilst dealing with the commerce, and moving upwards in the corporate space maintaining integrity and authenticity.
Announcing this year’s Honourees during the UK’s Black History Month is a serendipitous happenstance brought largely about by schedule and capacity, but I am personally delighted about it. Despite promises of change it is now undeniably clear that the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion have slipped to all but a footnote on many an agenda. Black History Month therefore provides a moment to reflect loudly on the stories and successes of Black professionals across all industries.
This is why we are passionate about our Honourees, because shining a spotlight on Black executives’ stories is important in building what will be not only their individual legacies, but also the shared legacy of the UK music industry. I’m so pleased to announce this year’s Excellence Honourees as:
Alex Omisesan (founder, Late Bloomer & artist manager, Nemzzz)
Chris Chance (CEO & director, Single Channel Films)
Janay Marie (founder & managing director, Tallawah Agency)
Kara Harris (senior promoter, Live Nation)
Keecia Ellis (founder/director, Rekodi Music)
Nasra Artan (head of international A&R, Sony Music Publishing)
Neicee Oakley (tour manager & co-founder, Blk Kactus)
Nnamdi Okafor (senior manager, global commercial partnerships, AWAL)
Terry Appiasei (CEO, Golden Boy Entertainment/co-founder, Black Pearl Music Group)
Uchenna Ubawuchi (Twnty Four Music)”.
There are a few interviews from Honourees that I want to share. This one is with the brilliant Chris Chance, CEO & Director of Single Channel Films. I am not going to quote and source the whole interview, though I am including most of it. It is laudable and commendable that Chance’s key ambition is to affect the career trajectory of creatives early in their careers. Making a real difference. That is to be applauded:
“How did you first break into the music industry?
“My cousin Aaron Attille was a mentor to me when I first started out and barely knew how a camera worked. My entry point into the music industry was during my time studying post production at Ravensbourne University. I knew local musicians and started to shoot and edit music videos for them to gain experience and improve my knowledge of the craft. After leaving university, I had a respectable portfolio of work on YouTube and a growing profile in the industry as a visual creative. I spent the next few years as a producer and director within corporate spaces working at MTV and Sony Music, during which time I worked alongside creatives such as Neron Power, Mark Tintner and Laurence Warder.”
You launched your own production company after working in-house at bigger companies – what made you take the plunge?
“The experience and industry knowledge I gained from working for those companies is invaluable. I moved on to figure out what I wanted for my own career and, after deep introspection, I decided that I wanted to build my own brand.”
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far and how did you overcome it?
“Finding a core team of professionals who trust and support my vision for Single Channel Films was something that didn’t come instantly, but having a track record of successful collaborations and leaning into the network that I’d built from previous projects was something that proved useful. Maintaining patience and trusting the process is another key one; I’m Christian so prayer and my faith definitely helps.”
How do you hope the industry changes in the coming years?
“I hope to see more Black and brown change-making personnel in leading positions. As for the individuals who are already in those groundbreaking positions, I’d like to see them continue to pay it forward to the next generation, helping to expand our presence and diversify the ways in which we as innovators and entrepreneurs are able to contribute and benefit from our commitment to the industry.”
What’s your ultimate ambition for your own career?
“To be able to positively affect the career trajectories of creatives at early stages in their professional journeys. I want to do this by maintaining a position where I’m able to build partnerships across the media industry, create opportunities and inspire others”.
I will move to a great interview with Janay Marie, Founder and Managing Director of TALLAWAH Agency. This is an amazing woman. “TALLAWAH Agency is an agency with the commitment to bridging the gap between the amplification of the global majority and the rich cultural tapestry of the Caribbean Diaspora via experimental events, consultancy + community-led initiatives”:
“What does it mean to be named as one of the BMC’s Excellence Honourees for 2025?
“Honestly, it came as such a huge surprise. When I first received the email, I thought it was someone trolling me. This year has been incredibly challenging for so many reasons, so to be recognised as one of the Excellence Honourees was such a lovely and humbling surprise. Tallawah Agency was created out of frustration at seeing how little cultural investment there was within the industries I work in, especially across music and the influencer ecosystem. I really wanted to change that. From the start, our goal has been to show brands what authentic investment in culture looks like and the kind of long-term impact it can have. It’s not just about shaping the industry, it’s about creating lasting change in the lives of the people and communities we serve.”
Is the wider industry doing enough to uplift and platform Black executives?
“I definitely think it’s getting better. I’ve seen a shift within the last few years, and it’s super-refreshing to see collectives such as BMC, Women Connect UK and the like amplify people behind the scenes, and it is not getting quieter either. There are more employee resource groups in companies that work overtime in ensuring that Black executives are thriving and are celebrated, which is so wonderful to see.”
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about how to make it in music so far?
“The importance of staying grounded and not getting swept up in everything. This industry can sometimes make you feel like you have to prove yourself or fit a certain mould, but I’ve realised that carving your own path is a strength, not a threat. Music is beautiful and rewarding, but life is so much bigger than work. My deepest joy comes from my sisterhood, my pets, my family, my friends, and the moments I treasure outside of it all. Protecting that balance is what keeps me centred and allows me to show up fully when I step into work.”
And what’s the biggest myth about working in the music industry?
“The biggest myth about working in the industry is that it’s easy to break into. I remember being 17, fresh out of the BRIT School, applying for over 100 roles and hearing ‘no’ every single time. It would have been so easy to give up, but I wanted it badly enough to keep going. I enrolled in media programmes, took on weeks of work experience and kept pushing until I finally got my first ‘yes’. It wasn’t overnight, but that persistence paid off, and it taught me that relentless dedication opens doors you might not even see yet”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Terry Appiasei/PHOTO CREDIT: Calvin Ceile
I am going to end with an interview with Terry Appiasei, CEO of Golden Boy Entertainment/Co-Founder of Black Pearl Music Group. I would suggest people to go and buy Music Week, where you can read more about the Black Music Coalition and their incredible legacy and role. More about this year’s impressive and diverse Honourees. Each of them doing incredible things in their field. A big reason why I wanted to spotlight them for this Black History Month. Celebrating the cultural impact of Black Music Coalition:
“You’re alongside lots of talented people on the Honourees list – how do you feel about the new wave of talent coming through?
“It’s definitely a privilege to be part of such a talented list. There’s loads of great Black talent coming through in the industry, all from different walks of life and with different goals. I think that the key to continued growth is to keep pushing forward and setting amazing examples, which the BMC allows to happen.”
Is the industry doing enough to ensure there is a diverse pool of new acts?
“In the current climate, I do not feel like there is a diverse pool of talent coming through. The Black music scene is not where it was a few years ago. However, there are loads of great artists that are yet to get their chance, and also loads of great artists flying the flag here and internationally. I think the industry could do more to nurture talent. This is definitely a cut-throat industry and sometimes people forget that there are real people from all walks of life behind the artists. Ensuring that artists are exposed to therapists, mental health professionals and even media and social media training could go a long way.”
What is the industry not focusing on enough?
“Mental health is an important one. The industry has so many ups and downs and not everyone can deal with the roller coaster, which in many unfortunate cases can lead to downward spirals.”
You have the keys to the industry for a day – what would you do?
“This seems like a lot of pressure for just one person, but I would put on a global music festival and every country in the world would be able to select an artist to represent them”.
Go and follow Black Music Coalition on Instagram. You can read more about the other amazing Honourees and why they were awarded and included. A body driven to combat systemic racism through the music industry and create equality to provide opportunities and voice for Black executives within in the U.K. music industry. As I say, I am fairly new to them, but it has been enriching and moving learning about their vital role in the music industry. For this Black History Month in the U.K., I wanted to dedicate some time…
TO the remarkable Black Music Coalition.