The Association of Independent Music (AIM) is honouring Black History Month this year with a number of activities to reflect on Black history and to celebrate Black music, causes and culture.

It’s clear that today’s problems can’t be addressed without first looking back and learning the lessons of history. Black History Month provides an opportunity to act on this by reflecting on the past and using expert knowledge and experiences in order to inform the present and work towards a better future. AIM seeks to engage with this idea in the content and themes of its programming.

AIM is using its platform to amplify Black voices & activists, promoting role models through social takeovers, supporting Black-owned businesses and organising a number of educational events, webinars and film screenings.

The first in a new event series for AIM named ‘My Takes’ will feature a number of short-form keynotes followed by speakers coming together for a roundtable discussion and Q&A. The first episode, ‘My Takes On: Black Experiences in Music – UK / US’ will be hosted in collaboration with Black-owned business and music discovery platform Mixtape Madness, featuring an array of global industry-leaders exploring Black experiences in music, looking at the differences and similarities between the UK and US, and unpacking the successes and difficulties of their careers. Speakers include Matthew Knowles and Michael Kay from Music World Entertainment, as well as Kingsley Okyere and Kwabz, Co-Founders of Mixtape Madness.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Day, AIM is hosting the panel discussion ‘Mental Health and The Black Experience’ alongside Mixtape Madness and mental health non-profit Getahead, featuring a number of mental health experts and music industry entrepreneurs discussing their experiences with the intersection of mental health and ethnicity. Speakers include recording artist and mental health activist Shocka and communications specialist Keri Perkins - the Founder of We Are Boogie Sounds and formerly head of PR for Nandos, as well as music journalist and host Sweeney Emanuel.

Both of these sessions are free for all to view. You can sign up to view ‘My Takes’ here https://bit.ly/37iPvCr, and ‘Mental Health and The Black Experience’ here https://bit.ly/37iPvCr

Two ‘takeovers’ of AIM’s Instagram account will put Black thought-leaders and role-models centre-stage to amplify their ideas to AIM’s audience. Sistem Magazine, a platform that was created by three Black women, for women to express themselves without any limits, is taking over the platform on Thursday 15 October. Black Bandcamp, a project that crowd-sources a database of over 2,000 Black artists, producers and labels on Bandcamp, is taking over on Friday 23 October.

Finally, AIM is partnering with Modern Films to host a virtual screening of White Riot, a feature-length documentary about the “Rock Against Racism” movement in 1978 which explores the solidarity between the music industry and the battle against systemic racism which is still so prevalent today. The film’s director, Rubika Shah, will also be speaking at AIM’s Annual General Meeting this month on 28 October on the event’s theme of ‘Activism, Business and Community’. You can watch the film here, and 50% of the ticket revenue generated from ticket purchases will be donated to a Black Lives Matter charity.

Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM said: “At the core of AIM’s mission, we level the playing field for music businesses regardless of their size, geography, genres or style. Similarly, for people, we campaign to level the playing field, regardless of ethnicity, gender, identity or background. We’re pleased to be able to use our platform to specifically support and promote expert voices from Black-owned businesses as part of our reflections during this year’s Black History Month.”