Manitoba Music Launches BPM | Black Professionals in Music

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BPM facilitator and playlist curator Andrew Sannie

The Lytics’ Andrew Sannie to Facilitate Monthly Sessions and Curate First Edition of the Spotify Playlist


The Black community has an immeasurable impact on music and culture across the globe and here in Manitoba. Everyday, we listen to music created, produced, and inspired by Black artists yet they still face discrimination and barriers within the industry. Dismantling these barriers begins with recognizing the need for Black music professionals to have their own specific spaces within the industry.

Facilitated by artist and business owner Andrew Sannie, BPM | Black Professionals in Music is a new program via Manitoba Music that supports Black music professionals in Manitoba. BPM will offer monthly sessions for participants to meet and network, join discussion groups, and learn from one another. Participants can bring ideas, share their professional needs and barriers, and influence the future direction of the program.

Coinciding with the BPM program, Manitoba Music will launch a new Spotify playlist to recognize Black artists from Manitoba, celebrating their contributions and amplifying their voices. Each month, a guest curator will share music by Manitoba-based artists, kicking off with Sannie. Sannie is a Canadian creative and business owner, a member of acclaimed Canadian hip hop group, The Lytics, and a co-founder of Canadian based experiential marketing and consultation company, Grape Experiential. Sannie works with several community groups and non-profits contributing to executive boards of several organizations across the country.

"I've always been of the belief that the most efficient way of making actionable change in the industries I work and play in is to be on the inside,” says Sannie. “The issue for many of us coming from disenfranchised communities is the inherent disadvantages that come hand in hand with being a newcomer or POC, having less ties in the country or being subject to the glass ceilings (real or perceived) that many like myself experience. I see BPM as an opportunity for young Black music professionals to learn how to open the doors to the boardrooms, head offices, and frankly wallets of the companies and organizations we currently are on the outside looking in on."

"We’re excited to be working with Andrew to launch BPM,” says Sean McManus, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “As an organization, we must do more to break down barriers, listen to the needs of Black artists and industry, and support and amplify Black voices. We’re committed to this work and to building further relationships and partnerships with Black-led organizations and initiatives.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Facilitator: Andrew Sannie
Location: Zoom (until further notice)
Dates: Monthly, exact date TBD based on participant availability
Participants must:

  • Be a resident of Manitoba
  • Identify as a Black musician or music industry professional

Registration is ongoing. To get involved, please email training@manitobamusic.com

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