Despite the global success and influence of artists such as Little Simz, there is a lack of support for Black music creators and executives. Image credit: Shutterstock.
A new study from UK Music has revealed the scale of Black music’s contribution to the UK’s cultural life and economic success - and the persistent inequalities that continue to hold back Black music creators and industry professionals.
Black Music Means Business: Driving Economic Growth in the UK brings together 30 years of market data, interviews and research to provide the most detailed analysis to date of Black music’s impact across culture, commerce and community.
A cultural and economic powerhouse
The report finds that Black music sits at the heart of the UK music industry’s growth. Across three decades of recorded music (1994–2023), Black music is estimated to have generated £24.5 billion of the UK’s total £30 billion market value - around 80% of commercial contribution.
But the report also highlights that Black music’s significance goes far beyond commercial metrics. Black music:
- drives innovation, continually shaping new genres and global trends
- acts as one of the UK’s most powerful cultural exports
- fuels surrounding creative sectors including fashion, live performance, and social media
- strengthens the UK’s soft power and global cultural influence.
Black music creators and executives continue to face disparities
While Black music thrives creatively and economically, Black artists, executives and workers continue to face disparities in pay, opportunity and representation.
There is a lack of support for Black music creators and executives, despite the global success and influence of artists including Little Simz, Central Cee, Dave, RAYE, Stormzy, Sault, Ezra Collective, Michael Kiwanuka, Soul II Soul and Sade.
Key findings include:
- Under-representation at senior levels: Only 22% of senior industry roles are held by people from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, compared to 46% of London’s population (UK Music, 2024).
- Pay inequality: Black creators face an estimated 20% pay gap (Black Lives in Music, 2021).
- Barriers to progression: Interviews with around 80 Black artists and professionals revealed recurring issues tied to equity, support, and access to resources.
John Shortell, MU Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, commented: "Black music has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s cultural and economic success, yet the musicians who drive this influence continue to face barriers and inequity across the industry.
"Ensuring proper recognition, and meaningful investment is not only a moral imperative but essential to sustaining the vitality and global impact of our music sector."
Eight actions to build a fairer, more sustainable future
To close the opportunity gap and ensure sustainable growth, the report sets out eight recommendations to tackle ongoing inequalities:
- Increase institutional funding for Black-led spaces, studios, archives and cultural landmarks
- Adopt consistent language and shared definitions of “Black music” across the sector
- Review music education to integrate Black music genres into curricula
- Ringfence investment from the government’s Music Growth Package for Black music projects and organisations
- Strengthen export support for Black music through the Department for Business and Trade
- Embed Black music in local regeneration plans
- Improve data collection and evidence-based research on Black music
- Develop more equitable industry partnerships with Black music practitioners
Read the full report below.