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Warner Music announces new skills and development programme to coincide with Black History Month

By | Published on Monday 4 October 2021

Warner Music

Warner Music in the UK has announced a new partnership with The Rio Ferdinand Foundation and Music Against Racism, aiming to raise awareness of racism and inequality in the UK.

Starting this month and running into November, the label will offer young people workshops, personal development programmes, skills training, career guidance, mentoring, seminars and workplace visits. It will also promote equality and diversity, and provide a platform for young people to share their thoughts and solutions through music, spoken word, film and social media.

Warner Music UK CEO Tony Harlow says: “In Britain today, music and sport – especially football – are the most vibrant forces driving cultural conversation and change around diversity and inclusivity. Rio Ferdinand knew the power of this combination years ago and has always been passionate about British black music. He has built a strong, vibrant Foundation around this history”.

“We want to help support the Foundation’s initiatives by adding music to the many opportunities they already create for disadvantaged young people and hope that they can benefit from our expertise, facilities, and access to our artists”, he goes on.

Ferdinand adds: “Music has always been a melting pot of cultures and speaks directly to people in ways they can enjoy and understand. Our United Against Racism programme has worked with the music industry and ambassadors, alongside sport and film, to share our message widely throughout 2021 and we are very excited by this announcement. This collaboration with Warner Music UK and Music Against Racism demonstrates the opportunities that business and charities working together can bring to create positive change in society”.

Finally, Music Against Racism CEO Olivia Edwards-Allen comments: “This new partnership with Warner Music UK and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation is a fantastic opportunity for us to challenge racism and inequality through and in the music industry across the UK, and is a great way for our organisation to mark Black History Month. We are looking forward to engaging with young people, creating and showcasing content that will reflect their thoughts and solutions to those issues and to working with them to shape our own education curriculum for 2022”.

Details of projects in London and Manchester are still to be announced.



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