The Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) is a group of radio presenters in the UK that host radio shows featuring blues, or blues-based and influenced music.

The range of music played on our shows varies widely, but at the root of it all is The Blues: a form of music that came from the southern United States, from an African American culture. In fact, it is hard to think of any popular music genre that doesn’t have African American culture at its core: blues, jazz, soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and blues-rock.

This music is now played and loved by people of all races and colours, but we do owe a debt to those whose hardship gave birth to the music, and then watched it flower, evolve and influence subsequent generations of musicians and audiences around the world.

At this time in particular we state our support for African Americans and people of colour in their struggle for equality and justice, that has gone through slavery, segregation, discrimination, and the civil rights movements, to the most recent shocking events. We also stand beside the BAME communities in Britain, as there is work to do here too. We need to listen to what they have to say.

Music has the power to unite, to inspire, and to bring about social change. Musicians have long supported movements like Rock Against Racism, The Anti-Apartheid Movement and now Love Music, Hate Racism. Now, it is difficult to put on festivals or tours in support or to raise awareness, but we can certainly remember what is at the heart of the music we love and play on the radio.

Paul Long
IBBA Chair