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The Cultural Reset is a platform dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ and POC artists through conducting album reviews, artist interviews and curating playlists. Seemly self-explanatory, the name comes from the overarching goal to reset not only the standards of culture but the expectations of what true artists are in the music industry. Nick Lee, the creator and editor of chief, and Shannon Ervin, the assistant director, have spearheaded the idea to create space to acknowledge those often overlooked in mainstream music.
Under their parent organization, The Color of Music Collective, featured emerging talent are given the perfect opportunity to be seen by professionals in the music industry. A seamless balance of the same coin, supporting LGBTQ+ and POC music professionals on one side and highlighting the upcoming artists of the same community on the other.
As all companies have had to adapt to the new virtual 2020 reality, TCR used this reality as a stepping stone to become a nationally based organization. Currently made up of 18 members, this is a volunteer program that is completely youth-led. The emphasis of the volunteer program is developing young professionals pursuing careers in the music industry that gain experience with TCR. They also achieve this through partnering with a PR company, Gramophone Media, to find some of the artists to interview.
With artists struggling to be seen as serious artists and marketed the same way as their “mainstream” counterparts a reset is just the chance they deserve. Even now as an industry using the term urban to describe music, which has always been used as a thinly veiled substitute for black, is only just starting to be transitioned out. This will have no true impact unless black and other artists of color are valued the same as white artists.
“There are so many artists with many different life perspectives and ways of expressing themselves that also resonate with the mainstream that deserve to have their voices heard.”
Nick and Shannon mentioned one specific artist, Uwade, who exemplified why that’s so important. She spoke in her interview about black voices in the indie space and a lack of recognition. Uplifting voices like hers and providing a platform that highlights all of these artists that deserve recognition creates not only a connection but a sense of community. Authentic change to give POC and LGBTQ+ artists equal acknowledgement will give the music industry the cultural reset it has needed for years.