the vibrant cultural and multi-ethnic musical landscape of the UK is to be boosted by the development of a unique online portal, launched today by not-for-profit music foundation Diaspora.

The website found at www.diaspora.uk.com will create a channel to showcase the talents of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority music communities to a global audience, whilst creating regular opportunities for an ever-growing number of diversity campaigners to engage with the wider creative sector.

Through a comprehensive programme of events and networking sessions, the initiative will promote opportunities to discuss the challenges experienced by artists from this specific sector of the music industry.

Diaspora Founder Rose Nunu said,

“Our vision is to ensure the contribution made by Black, Asian and ethnic minority artists and its supporting organisations is visible and fully integrated within all areas of the UK music industry”

Diaspora is supported by key industry trade bodies and professional music organisations including The Association of Independent Music (AIM), BPI, BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors), The Musicians Union (MU), Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), Music Publishers Association (MPA), Music Managers Forum (MMF), PRS for Music, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and UK Music

Diaspora was launched four years ago with the support of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) at a seminar that focused on introducing an ethnic minority audience to the principle music industry trade bodies and collection societies, and to UK Trade & Investment

Since then Diaspora has delivered pan-industry initiatives including;

- A seminar with AIM to increase the participation of Urban, Dance and World music companies in their seminar events;

- The first-ever BASCA outreach programme to engage with an ethnic minority audience;

Bespoke panel sessions for North West ethnic groups at Liverpool Sound City as part of their annual music festival.

- Consultation support to UK Music on research into the lack of diversity in the workplace as part of its Liberating Creativity Music Policy;

- Thrice yearly roundtable discussions hosted at BPI. They ensure long term engagement exists between senior industry music professionals representing the interests of ethnic minorities and those representing the UK commercial music industry

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