By SaskMusic

Breaking Down Racial Barriers in the Saskatchewan Music Industry: a Roundtable

Aug 23, 2023 | 10:11 AM

The Breaking Down Racial Barriers (BDRB) initiative is facilitating a roundtable panel discussion on anti-Black racism in Saskatchewan’s music and entertainment industry via ZOOM August 28 at 6:00 p.m.

The series is presented by SaskMusic and supported by BreakOut West and The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) and ADVANCE, Canada’s new Black Music Business Collective, with additional support from FACTOR.

Initiated, curated and coordinated by Canadian music and entertainment community mainstays Ian Andre Espinet and David “Click” Cox, BDRB discussions are CENTRED in the voices and lived experiences of working Black music professionals. To build an inclusive, economically viable Canadian music and entertainment industry, it is critical to address the anti-Black racism that exists in the systems and working environments within which Black music professionals and creatives operate.

In an effort to advance equity in the region’s music industry, SaskMusic has supported the BDRB facilitated series to have difficult, yet critical, conversations in an effort to identify the structures and behaviours that perpetuate anti-Black racism.

The Roundtable will address key areas of the entertainment industry and barriers faced by Black music professionals – with highlighted themes and key take-aways captured.

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BREAKING DOWN RACIAL BARRIERS ROUNDTABLE DATES

PANEL: Monday August 28th, 2023 6:00pm SaskTime Online Through Zoom

Register for FREE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NhjDtMgDSce6Zr61T4gpVQ

Featuring the following participants:

– KYRIEL (PIMPTON) ROBERTS (Artist & Video Director)

– PRINCE BANKS (Artist Manager/Producer)

– FIYINFOLUWA OBAYAN (Artist)

– ZOCHI (Artist)

DISCUSSION TOPICS

• Systemic & Systematic Racism

• The Economics of anti-Black Racism in the Entertainment Industry

• Anti-Black Racism in the Media & the Spaces that Create it

• Barriers faced by Black Event Producers: Agents, Access to Venues Event Spaces, Festivals & Sponsorship

• Anti-Black Racism in The Creative Space: From Creatives to Ad Agencies

• Challenges faced by Black Artists: Systemic & Systematic Barriers – Independent to Major Label

• Representation in the Corporate & Organizational Entertainment Industry: Record Labels, Streaming Companies & Industry Associations

• Retention & Succession: The Role of Education, Mentorship & Succession Planning in creating the next generation of Black Music Professionals; Hiring, Professional Advancement & Promotion w/i the Music Entertainment Industry

This session will be held online via Zoom, and is completely free to attend. For more information or to register for this free series, please visit https://www.saskmusic.org/workshops.