Common Music Group’s World Impression Group (GIT) has expanded the corporate’s Sounds of the Future (SotF) program into the UK. This system is described as “a world initiative supporting Black creativity and the preservation of Black music historical past.”
The corporate’s World Impression Group, which launched in 2024, timed the UK launch to coincide with Black Historical past Month with an archival exhibition, a brand new internship scheme, and a gathering of Black cultural leaders, creatives, tastemakers and executives from throughout music, trend, artwork, sport, movie & TV, and theater.
The spotlight of the launch was Black Frequencies, a gallery set up at Common Music’s UK workplaces that explored themes of Black British id, liberation and creativity by way of music. Dr. Aleema Grey, a historian who curated the 2024 Past the Bassline exhibition at The British Library, chosen recordings, pictures and paperwork tracing Black music’s improvement in Britain. Grey based HOUSE OF DREAD, which describes itself as an “anti-disciplinary heritage studio.”
Dr. Grey stated: “It was a real honor to collaborate with Common Music Group on this undertaking. Common holds a wealthy and numerous archive of Black artistry that speaks to the depth and brilliance of our musical heritage.
“Black Frequencies emerged from a want to suppose in a different way about how we hear, bear in mind, and have fun these histories — not as static artefacts, however as residing frequencies that proceed to form the sound and spirit of our future.”
“Common holds a wealthy and numerous archive of Black artistry that speaks to the depth and brilliance of our musical heritage.”
Dr. Aleema Grey, HOUSE OF DREAD
Common Music UK additionally introduced a partnership with the Black Music Coalition, a company working to deal with racial inequality within the British music trade. The collaboration entails a two-year internship place for one government. This system permits the intern to rotate by way of three totally different divisions throughout the first 12 months earlier than deciding on a specialization for the second 12 months.
The Black Music Coalition’s government committee, stated: “Creating sustainable pathways into the music trade is important for shaping the tradition of the trade. By means of this two-year internship, the Black Music Coalition companions with Common Music Group to establish, spend money on, and nurture rising Black expertise who’re at a pivotal level of their inventive {and professional} journey.”
“The initiative represents each organizations’ dedication to fairness, entry, and the cultivation of the subsequent technology of expertise to drive variety inside the trade ahead.”
UMG hosted a dinner at BAFTA’s Piccadilly location as a part of the launch occasions. The corporate screened 4 brief movies created by college students from the BRIT Faculty’s Movie and Media Manufacturing program. Josh-Moses Amasse, Aaron Bony, Kyrah Knowles McKellop and Ali Suleiman Morgan produced the movies utilizing footage from Common’s video archive.
“By means of this two-year internship, the Black Music Coalition companions with Common Music Group to establish, spend money on, and nurture rising Black expertise who’re at a pivotal level of their inventive {and professional} journey.”
Black Music Coalition’s government committee
Throughout the screening, musicians from Chineke! Orchestra carried out. The string quartet performed classical preparations of songs by Miss Dynamite, Soul II Soul, Courtney Pine and Dina Carroll.
Sharlotte Ritchie, Senior Director of World Impression & Communications at UMG, stated: “Launching SotF within the UK builds on the necessary legacy of this system – shining a light-weight on Black British artistry. Black British music and creativity have carried rhythms and messages throughout time and borders, influencing our tradition and artistry in the present day, and offering gentle and risk for the longer term.”
“partnering with the BMC on creating extra entry and alternative for rising leaders is only one instance of our dedication to making sure Black British artistry is supported purposefully and authentically.”
Sharlotte Ritchie, Common Music Group
Added Ritchie: “Black Frequencies is a reminder of the significance of preserving Black artwork and uncovering tales that also have to be advised, and we thank Dr Aleema Grey for sharing her ardour and imaginative and prescient with us. Partnering with the BMC on creating extra entry and alternative for rising leaders is only one instance of our dedication to making sure Black British artistry is supported purposefully and authentically, and that the management of tomorrow is equitable, inventive, and broad in perspective.”
“To finish the month connecting with so many gifted and devoted creatives and executives at our dinner was a stupendous reminder of the facility of group and collective voice – I’m so grateful for the time shared and vitality exchanged.”Music Enterprise Worldwide
