Wretch 32 has collaborated with The Black Music Coalition (BMC) to launch a university scholarship for an aspiring Black music executive.
With the growing costs of higher education creating barriers for underrepresented communities, BIMM and The Black Music Coalition have collaborated on a scholarship aimed to help Black students kickstart their music industry careers.
The partnership will be awarded to one Black student who is accepted for a three-year Bachelor’s Honours Degree in either Music Business, Event Management, or Music Media, Marketing and Communications at the renowned BIMM music institute.
The Black Music Coalition is teaming up with the @BIMM_Institute and celebrated rapper and music executive @Wretch32 on a brand new scholarship, dedicated to supporting the next generation of Black music industry professionals 🙌🏾💫https://t.co/hp3cFnSqTw pic.twitter.com/iAJdzwJXlO
— The Black Music Coalition (@The_BMC_UK) November 7, 2024
The scholar’s tuition will be paid in full and Wretch will be their Scholarship Ambassador, sharing his advice and offering insight throughout their course.
“Music has always served as a lifeline to me and opened up a world that I may not have come to know otherwise,” said Wretch. “Understanding that power, and finding ways to pass that to future generations is crucial to legacy building and purpose. It is needed from all of us to sustain the art – a part of building is making sure it’s left in safe hands.”
Wretch 32. Photo credit: Misan Harriman
The Black Music Coalition was formed and co-founded by Afryea Henry-Fontaine, Komali Scott-Jones and Char Grant in 2020 in response to the global demand for racial equality, spurred on by the Black Lives Matter movement. The UK-based organisation hopes to tackle systemic racism, promote equity, and advocate for fair representation by creating opportunities for underrepresented talent.
“We believe that the increasing financial strain of further education shouldn’t be the reason our brightest talents miss out on a better future,” said Henry-Fontaine. “Our aim is to empower young Black British creatives, affirming that a wealth of opportunities await them. This scholarship is a testament to our commitment to fostering talent and inclusivity within the music industry.”
Scott-Jones said Wretch 32 supports the BMC’s joint mission “to empower young Black British creatives as well as simultaneously affirming the wealth of opportunities open to them. This scholarship is a testament to our commitment to fostering talent, equity, diversity and inclusivity within the UK music industry.”
“Wretch embodies the creativity, passion, ambition, and breadth of perspective that we encourage all creatives to adopt on their journeys,” added Grant. “Over the course of their Bachelor’s Degree, the chosen scholar will experience first-hand how they apply themself to the craft as both an artist and executive, further nourishing the development of the next generation music industry.”
Applicants must apply for an undergraduate degree course at BIMM London starting in September 2025. Only those who go on to accept an offer from BIMM Music Institute London and complete the enrolment process can be awarded the scholarship.
The deadline to apply is on May 30, 2025. Click here to find the application form.
Wretch 32 is the latest artist to endorse a BIMM scholarship with past notable advocates including Fatboy Slim, Joan Armatrading, IDLES, Moses Schneider and Fontaines D.C.
The news comes weeks after the Tottenham rapper unveiled the empowering and reflective ‘Black and British’ – his latest single with Little Simz and Benjamin AD that explores the raw reality of being Black in Britain.
It also serves as the lead single from Wretch’s upcoming seventh album, which he said is for those who still like their “music with music in it,” and “with real raps in it – not just words.”
There is no release date for the album as of yet, but it is expected to come out next year.
The record will follow his 2019 album Upon Reflection’ – which NME awarded full marks, saying it was “one of the best UK rap records of the year” and “prove[d] his pen is mightier than most.”
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