Patel, Amit Dinesh ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6328-240X (2024) How Black music record stores shaped the sound of the UK. The Conversation. ISSN 2201-5639 (Online) (doi:10.64628/AB.gwwg6tsna)

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Abstract

The article highlights the pivotal role of independent Black music record shops in the UK many founded by the Windrush generation and their descendants in shaping British musical culture. These stores functioned as more than retail outlets: they were cultural hubs, community spaces, and sites of identity formation, where records, ideas, and musical knowledge were exchanged. Research led by Dr Amit Dinesh Patel and Dr Brona Martin at the University of Greenwich and 2Funky Arts demonstrates that shop staff acted as “taste-makers,” promoting emerging Black genres such as reggae, jungle, UK garage, drum ’n’ bass, and grime, and supporting artists, DJs, and independent labels. By providing an alternative infrastructure in an era when mainstream media marginalized Black music, these stores facilitated creative networks, influenced radio and live scenes, and fostered a thriving independent music ecosystem. Documenting their histories through oral testimony, film, and archival work underscores their enduring cultural legacy and significant impact on the development of British music.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	"Part of a new research project, The Record Store and Black Music: A UK History, led by my colleague Dr Brona Martin, which is aiming to shine a spotlight on this legacy by documenting the untold stories of Black record stores across the UK to preserve them for future generations. Through oral histories, films and photos, we are capturing the vibrant world that flourished within these stores."
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Black music record stores, cultural hubs, community lifeline, Windrush generation, identity and belonging, oral histories, archival documentation, independent record stores, taste-makers
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > Centre for Sound and Image
Related URLs:	Organisation Publisher
Last Modified:	25 Nov 2025 10:23
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/51735

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