Reproduced below are the email ping-pong between a white manager, who represents black talent and myself. 

For a white guy who reaps a substantial income by operating within black music to highlight his race was most insensitive, off the mark, and simply annoying. Black music forms a substantial part of Western popular music. Can we compare that to Jewish music? No. But there certainly are more Jews running things within the music industry, compared to black people, whose creativity fuels the trends and income generation! For a white man, whose very race and colour of skin gives him advantages over comparable black people, to rubbish views expressed by a predominantly black audience beggars belief!

Round 1
Hi there - please forgive me - but this (unspecified comments in press release) is absolute rubbish. The British music industry has not failed the black music sector and this attitude only serves to cause division and alienate people. I am Jewish - there seems to be a shortage of Jews as well!!! With respect you. Best

Dear

First of all, thank you for making time to read and respond to our press release.

As you know, I respect you and have tried to have you on previous panels.

Whilst I appreciate your candour, I think the views expressed below are way off.

Whilst I'm sure you gave your comments some thought, I find them most insensitive, coming from a) a Jew, bearing in mind the prejudices and discrimination that form part of your race's history, b) a white man, who by the very colour of his skin enjoys many advantages and opportunities over comparable blacks, and finally c) a white person who derives a substantial income from  black music and representing black acts. I am disappointed that you can take it upon yourself to make uninformed comments regarding black people highlighting issues that affect them.

"Absolute rubbish"? You are perfectly entitled to disagree with the points raised, but I question your authority for making such a disparaging remark. I have been running the BMC for four years without making it a conduit for "division and alienation", despite the justifiable charge of institutional racism that can be levelled against the music industry. Whilst participants are overwhelmingly black, we have and do welcome people from other races. But since you've brought race into the picture, I must say, I am amazed that you can rubbish a body of opinion, without adding a single justified reason. I wonder how Jews and its press would have reacted, had a black person rubbished the opinions expressed at a predominantly Jewish gathering in the same cavalier manner.

You say there's a shortage of Jews? Certainly not in the industry side. On the music side, there are lots of different musical styles that operate on the fringes of Western popular music, of which Jewish music is one. However black music is the focus of Western popular music, so a shortage of Jews, however you look at it, is not comparable to a shortage of blacks, considering the level of black music consumption.

Round 2
Thank you.

I still don't fundamentally accept that black (perhaps better to say non-white)  music does not get a fair platform in the UK. Black music gets a totally fair platform in the UK from the music industry. The British public decide. The reality is they more often than not, the British music buyer prefers to buy American black music than British black music.

Where I would agree with you - is if you were to say British media is not always as receptive to black faces as they might be. It is harder to get black faces in print than white faces - but then you would have to evaluate the media to see if the percentage of space given to black faces is proportionate to the percentage of non white faces in the UK. I don't know the answer and to discuss this wisely, informed accurate researched facts would be needed.

A fact I do know is that British record companies have to spend a disproportionate amount of marketing money to market British black acts to achieve the same level of sales as white acts. Some black activists stir up problems in the minds of young black people in a way that is not healthy.

Best

Hello

Thanks for mail and your interest in this matter. 

However, this will probably be my last e-mail on this matter, as you do not appear to have grasped the points in the press release, or appreciated the reasons why the Black Music Congress was formed. Regarding your e-mail, my response is as follows:

1. The issue is not about ' more black people involved than proportionally the population'. The issue is the level of engagement within the industry. We are not talking about mixtapes and showcases - 5 million blacks could be making music in Britain, but that does not interest me as much as knowing that 50 of them are involved where important decisions that affect artists or the industry take place, that's either as power players or gate-keepers.

2. 'a lot of black musicians do not make the kind of music the British public want' .You are no doubt aware that much of popular music is music of black origin. Also, how will the British public be aware of the music by black musicians, if there's not sufficient air play? We need to acknowledge that racism whether institutional or not, is endemic and also affects the music industry.

3.  'Your stance does not include the black music community taking any responsibility for their own predicament with simply blame being put on others'. Had you taken to trouble to read my press release, you would have noted that I have said that it is a three pronged approach, and I have challenged black consumers to also take responsibility, along with radio stations and presenters. I've copied it here for ease of reference. I also made the point about the importance of developing live-craft, and learning from the indie labels behind the rise of indie music: The way forward is for artists and producers to create credible products – “that’s strong song-writing, good production, and impressive performances,” advised Kwaku. The media, particularly radio, have to pro-actively play British in order to popularise it. Although efforts already in place such as 1Xtra’s Homegrown and Choice FM’s UK Cuts were highlighted, participants felt more needs to be done. Finally, consumers and fans “actually need to put their hands in their pockets to support British product, instead of continually making excuses”.

Regards

Kwaku

Round 3
You are right ... this is becoming a waste of time as I could equally say  you do not appear to have grasped the points of what I am saying ....But I give respect to what you say and when we are in the same room please do come and say Hello. Would you like me to arrange a public debate on the issues you raise at a major industry event?