What is POWER UP?
Learn about the initiative that's empowering Black music creators and industry professionals in the UK
Abel Cello (2021-03-01) by Photo by Ben BonouvrierPOWER UP
POWER UP is an ambitious, long-term initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.
POWER UP logo on digital screen (2022-02-01) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
Why is it needed?
The Black Lives Matter movement has galvanised many companies to reflect, connect with Black communities and support the movement. But the public solidarity must be met with new approaches which foster meaningful change. Step forward POWER UP!
Roundtables (2022-04-09) by JustJonesPOWER UP
The initiative addresses barriers facing Black music creators and industry professionals including structural and systemic racism and injustice; everyday prejudice in the workplace; marginalisation and under-representation in every part of the industry.
Keith Harris talks (2023-02-01) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
There is a lack of visibility, particularly in senior roles, at executive level, in board rooms and for Black-led companies and organisations; economic inequality; and inequitable financial benefit.
Keith and Ben (2022-04-09) by Just JonesPOWER UP
"Having been on the receiving end of unconscious bias and the structural and systemic anti-Black behaviour that occurs within our industry, I know first-hand just how important POWER UP is." Ben Wynter, Co-Founder, POWER UP (pictured, right with Keith Harris)
Ben Wynter Welcome (2022-04-02) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
"Following Black Out Tuesday and the posts of solidarity, I realised that there was an opportunity to put something in place that would encourage the dialogue to last beyond the 2020 BLM movement and have a lasting impact over the next decade and beyond." - Ben Wynter, Co-Founder
TIME TO POWER UP - 2021 launch video by Jernice Easthope: Find out more about POWER UP’s background, anti-Black racism in the music industry and the barriers we are addressing here.
Google Participant Meetup (2022-07-01) by SureThing MediaPOWER UP
Who is Involved?
Co-founded by PRSFoundation and BenWynter and managed by PRS Foundation in partnership with YouTube Music, Beggars Group and the Black Music Coalition, the initiative brings together several industry partners and goes beyond solidarity to bring about meaningful change.
Other supporters include Creative Scotland, Believe, Simkins, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Wales, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, plus AIM, the BPI, the FAC, The Ivors Academy, the MMF, the MPA, MPG, The Musicians’ Union, PPL, PRS for Music and the PRS Members’ Fund, as well as Associate Partner, Daft Springer, who each bring added-value support to POWER UP Participants.
Yaw Owusu (2022-07-12) by Sure Thing MediaPOWER UP
Senior POWER UP Manager, Yaw Owusu chaired 7 Focus Groups in 2021 and has built a highly impactful Participant Programme.
Birmingham panel (2022-04-09) by JustJonesPOWER UP
More than 80 Black creatives came together to steer the initiative and our Executive Steering Committee features some of the UK’s most impressive executives - crossing generations and sectors - including two BMC Exec Committee members, UK Music Diversity Taskforce heads.
Kano Ambassador (2020-10-01) by Olivia RosePOWER UP
And POWER UP Ambassadors include Kano, DJ Target, Ray Blk, Dumi Oburota, Alex Boateng, Sheneice Charway, Rashid Kasirye, Tiffany Calver, Koby ‘Posty’ Hagan, Lady Leshurr, and Sabrina Washington.
POWER UP Year 1 Group Shot (2021-10-25) by Sure Thing MediaPOWER UP
What Does POWER UP Offer?
Through a holistic Participant Programme and the POWER UP Movement, we are breaking down barriers to create a fairer, more equitable industry for Black creators and industry professionals - increasing representation, and supporting innovation and championing Black excellence.
POWER UP Participant meet-ups by Sure Thing Media
August (2022-03-01) by August CharlesPOWER UP
Each year, we are powering up 40 Black music creators and industry professionals through a long-term participant network, addressing barriers and making progress across all genres and sectors, UK-wide.
We take an intersectional approach to addressing barriers facing Black creatives, and are proud to support applicants from all backgrounds, to have covered the whole of the UK, and to have impacted careers in many genres and sub-sectors of music.
Find out more information here.
Since launching in early 2021, POWER UP has received over 1,200 applications from Black music creators and industry professionals who are at crucial career stages and are facing the glass ceiling barriers this initiative is designed to tackle.
Participants benefit from capacity building and partnership support (including mentoring, coaching, masterclasses, 1-to-1 support, marketing support and mental health first aid training), plus grant support of up to £15,000 for their projects, business and career development.
Emm Press (2022-03-01) by EmmaviePOWER UP
The impact of the network has already been huge, and we are proud to have supported 2 cohorts already, with a third cohort being announced for 2023-24.
See our 'Impacts So Far' story for more information.
Story by POWER UP
