Programme Design | Research and Development | Content Design and Production | Communications
The ReMap project explores the challenges in establishing music careers experienced by Black musicians and industry practitioners living and working in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). The brainchild of Yaw and Dr Mathew Flynn (University of Liverpool) the research seeks to address three key questions:
- Why recent Black music initiatives have had no sizeable impact on the opportunities for LCR-based black music artists?
- Why the Black music community remains underrepresented in the LCR’s wider music economy?
- What can be done to increase parity between LCR-based emerging and established Black music artists and their equivalents from other demographics?
Phase One of this project took the form of a short documentary film (see below) that explored the creative and career experiences of a number of Black artists from Liverpool who had previously been part of the URBEATZ Liverpool One project, which in 2011 identified them as having ‘industry potential’.
Phase Two of the project, was the ReMap survey and report, which was designed to generate a more complete picture of the current situation across the LCR.
Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the research engaged individuals from the Black music community through interviews, surveys and focus groups. The report combines the research results to provide a detailed overview of how Black individuals contribute to and participate in the region’s music sector, along with the challenges they encounter.
Covering topics including accessibility, representation, equality and regional dynamics, the ReMap report offers insights for stakeholders at local and national levels, and there are 16 key findings and 22 recommendations that serve to aid change in the Liverpool City Region music sector. Among the main findings are observations on the prevalence of racism and discrimination, the presence of highly experienced Black music practitioners and the challenges faced in accessing performance opportunities and mentorship.
Download the report HERE
Yaw led on the concept and aim of the project, executively produced the short documentary, helped devised the research, formulated the report and strategic communications.