The BBC has announced a season of programming across its channels, inspired by the opening exhibition at V&A East Museum, to celebrate 125 years of Black music in the UK. Running from April through summer and beyond, the season will span TV, radio, iPlayer, Sounds and online, highlighting key genres, personalities, scenes and music that have shaped Black British music since 1900.
Highlights include a special Radio 2 show at Hackney Empire featuring the Chineke! Orchestra and LJ Singers, exploring genres from Funk to UK Garage. Radio 6 Music will broadcast 'Rave Forever' shows every Friday in August, with presenters Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE hosting special guests. Radio 1Xtra and iPlayer will offer a visual and audio DJ mixtape curated by Shortee Blitz and Beat A Maxx, celebrating 100 years of UK Black music.
Other content includes a Gospel performance by the London Community Gospel Choir for BBC Songs of Praise and Radio 4’s Daily Service, recorded at V&A East Storehouse for Black History Month. Radio 3 will spotlight Black British composers and performers, with a new commission and a three-part Music Matters series. BBC Bitesize will launch secondary school resources covering jazz in the 1920s, UK Garage, Grime, and Stormzy’s 2019 Glastonbury set.
From April to November, East Bank will host 'The Music is Black Festival' at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, featuring four co-curated summer weekends of live music between June and September, led by V&A East, BBC Music Studios, UAL’s London College of Fashion, Sadler’s Wells East and UCL.
Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music, said: 'BBC Music is committed to showcasing the widest possible breadth of British Music, and this continues with our partnership with The Music Is Black launch.' Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A East, added: 'We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the BBC on this incredible season of programming and education resources.'
