Black History is Now
In appreciation of Black history month and the enormous influence Black artists have (and continue to have) in the music industry, Too Lost wanted to emphasize the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses, and supporting Black artists. Like any avid music lover, we can't go very long without listening to music. We love new and old music, from hundreds of different artists, across countless different genres. We know we are not alone. As we listen to the music in our playlists, we find it important to reflect on the influences behind the sounds. The majority of the music we listen to (whether it be indie pop, radio pop, hip hop or rock) is inspired by and influenced by Black artists and Black culture. Too Lost implores everyone reading this to reflect on this as you listen to your playlists this month, and in the future.
We went ahead and created a playlist of some of our personal favorite songs from Black artists. Give it a listen and support their amazing discographies.
In light of this, it is also important to understand the systemic racial inequities within music education. Musicians are very much aware of the fact that music education is prohibitively expensive. For aspiring professional musicians, higher-end instruments and equipment can cost thousands of dollars. At the same time, lessons can cost hundreds of dollars. Applying and auditioning for conservatoires and tuition for higher education music programs are incredibly expensive. These costs disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and Latinx. Racist policies and practices have systematically made it more difficult for BIPOC families to build wealth. BIPOC families statistically hold less wealth than white families, making a music education exponentially more difficult to afford. While some non-profit organizations and public schools have made efforts to bridge these inequalities, these programs often exist only in major cities. Furthermore, lower income schools have fewer music teachers, music courses, practice rooms, and special music equipment. All of these resources are necessary to promote music education. Addressing these inequalities is essential when considering the influence that Black artists and Black cultures have had and will continue to have on music.
While listening to the playlists we created that showcase Black excellence, please also consider donating and supporting Black-owned businesses.
Too Lost artists can direct a percentage of their royalty income generated from their releases to organizations and nonprofits supporting Black communities and Black artists. To set up an automatic donation, add [email protected] as a royalty split to your release here:
https://toolost.com/user-portal/royalty-shares
Stream the playlist on Spotify:
Support Black owned businesses:
https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/support-black-owned-businesses/
Some awesome books to read on Black history:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/01/cnn-underscored/books-black-history-month/index.html