Page 23 - Urban Kapital DECEMBER DIGITAL ISSUE

MEDIA & CULTURE UK

#01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06

// BBC SAYS IT IS COMMITTED // REPRESENTATION - BAME //GEORGE THE POET - NEW \\ NOAH POWA’S REGGAE GOLD \\ VP RECORDS 40TH \\BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVE
TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND WOMEN IN SENIOR PODCAST SERIES LAUNCHED DEBUT WITH HIT SINGLE “KEEP ANNIVERSARY BOX SET PRESENTS...
LEADERSHIP THE SAME ENERGY”

The BBC says June Sarpong’s appoint- Creative diversity and making amazing The broadcaster says Increasing rep- VP Records delivers solid hit records platforms such as Spotify der, and others into the international
ment as Head of Diversity builds on programmes for TV, radio and online resentation of BAME and women in with the release of their prestigious mainstream.
the improvements the BBC has made for all audiences is the BBC’s number senior leadership remains a priori- Reggae Gold 2019 compilation. Released in October 2019, Down In
in recent years in improving on and off one priority. ty. Progress is being made but more Jamaica: 40 Years of VP Records is a Directed by Frances-Anne Solomon
air representation. Earlier this year, needs to be done, particularly at the Debuting at #1 on the Billboard chart, 94-track, multi-format limited edition and shot in Trinidad, Ghana, the UK
Board member Tom Ilube took on the Diversity of voices, opinions, stories, very highest executive levels. and racking up more than 400,000 (2,000 run) box set with a 24-page and Canada, HERO is the story of Ulric
Chair of the BBC’s Diversity and In- geographies and communities is at the streams on Spotify, YouTube and booklet and art cards detailing the Cross, who left his small island home
clusion Advisory Group, supported by heart of this, demonstrated by recent The second series of the award win- iTunes, gems such as Dovey Magnum’s hits, the rarities, and the history of the in 1941 to seek his fortune, and became
Tanni Grey-Thompson and with exter- commissions including Ru Paul’s Drag ning Have You Heard George’s Pod- “Juju” and Naomi Cowan’s “Paradise world’s largest reggae label. the RAF’s most decorated West Indian.
nal advisors Solomon Elliott, Tanya Race UK and Famalam in entertain- cast? by George the Poet, launched Plum.” Another gem is Noah Powa’s Featuring 101 different artists, Down His life took a different course when he
Motie, Geoff Norcott, Adele Patrick, as ment, George the Poet’s BBC Sounds on BBC Sounds in the autumn. The “Keep the Same Energy.” In Jamaica tells the story in detail followed the call of history and joined
well as June herself. podcast and the drama, Pose. podcast is a uniquely creative mix of through a chronological survey of the the Pan-African movement sweeping
The group support and advise the Di- observations, provocations, drama, po- The selector turned performing artist key records that helped define the the world in the 50’s and 60’s.
rector-General and the BBC on how The BBC’s diversity targets are ambi- etry, and music. from New York has had a consistent company, from early singles on ob-
it portrays all of the UK’s communi- tious across the board, such as 15% summer of ‘streams’ with fans re- scure sublabels (Roots From The Yard, It showed at The Ritzy in Brixton in
ties on air, and represents them in its BAME staff across the BBC and in For more cultural media, arts and questing the song in parties from New Jah Guidance, and Love) to the well- October.
workforce. leadership roles by 2020. entertainment news: York to Birmingham, England, and add- known VP Records brand that brought Look out for more Black History Events
www.powellandbarnsmedia.com ing the song to multiple playlists on Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Wayne Won- from Black Cultural Archives.

MAGAZINE // 22 MAGAZINE // 23