UK's first Black music export service launches, BLACMEX

The first export service for Black music across the UK has launched.

Founded by Kwame Safo (AKA Funk Butcher) and CEO of the Gospel Music Industry Alliance (GMIA) Audrey Gray, BLACMEX will represent Black genres and global musical talent within England, Scotland, Wales an Northern Ireland.

The office was created with the aim of "decolonising how the music industry engages with Black music specialisms," which according to BLACMEX, has led to "under-representation and/or misrepresentation in commercial markets."

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BLACMEX has said that it will do this by "connecting and engaging with the much-needed cultural sensitivity of the global industry and regulatory requirements for the freedom of talent movement."

In an interview with PRS' M Magazine, Safo - who is the former Grants and Programmes manager for PRS Foundation - said BLACMEX will aim to "lobby and advocate for Black British music at government level, even UNESCO level.

"We want to showcase the value of what we do as a community from an authentic space, but on a large scale," he added.

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The service will work to connect Black artists from different corners of the UK with each other, such as those based in Wales and London, as well as artists across the world — while creating a "sustainable" model for live performances that benefits musicians.

You can find out more about BLACMEX, here.

Megan Townsend Is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter