Selector: Behind The Music

In this episode of Selector: Behind the Music, Mo Ayoub travels to Havana to explore the Cuban music scene up close. The trip also marks 10 years of Selector Radio being broadcast on Cuban station Radio Taíno.Mo speaks with legendary saxophonist César López, who shares the story behind his Havana jazz club and reflects on a lifetime in music, from performing with global jazz icons to supporting the next generation of Cuban musicians.We also hear from Indira Milagros Fajardo Ramírez, President of the Cuban Institute of Music, who explains how the organisation supports thousands of musicians across the country while protecting Cuba’s rich musical heritage and making space for new sounds emerging from the streets.Together, they discuss the role of venues, institutions and artists in shaping Cuba’s music scene today.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything British Coucil does, whether with trips abroad to foster relations between cultures, or putting events on with underground scenes and artists, it is essential to get right. So in this latest episode of Behind The Music, we ask what makes a great collaboration?Our presenter Mo Ayoub is joined by Dhruva Balram, the co-founder and managing director at Dialled In, an artist-led movement inspiring South Asian Arts & Culture, and also Iryna Lobanok, music programme manager at the public institution Ukrainian Institute, co-founder of a Ukrainian music community Porichka, and also a sound producer and artist in band Krapka;Koma. They both have led multiple successful collaborative projects alongside British Council, and share their knowledge throughout this episode.

When it comes to the music industry, how can we balance AI’s creative potential with protecting original human artistry? And what can the global music community learn from different countries’ approaches to AI regulation? In this episode, we discuss how AI is changing the way music is made, why labelling AI-generated tracks matters, and the copyright battles behind the tech! Mo is joined by Tom Kiehl, Chief Executive of UK Music and a key voice in shaping ethical AI policy, along with visual artist/designer Avinash and music producer Murphy, both creatives based in India, who share how AI is transforming their creative work on the ground. 

To mark International Women’s Day, Mo is joined by musician and producer Beril Sarıaltun in Istanbul and West Yorkshire band Loose Articles to discuss the barriers women and non-binary people still face in the music industry. Beril shares her work with Kreșendo (formerly known as Beatz by Girlz), while Loose Articles talk about their Kick Like a Girl tour, which helps young women and non-binary artists break into live music. 

Ever wondered about the comparison between India and UK's live sector? Mo sits down with Sybil Bell from Independent Venue Week and Bangalore's Neon Culture to discuss the live sector in both countries. Have a listen just ahead of Independent Venue Week kicking off in the UK!

Whether you love or hate streaming, there's no denying it is hugely instrumental within the music industry. In this episode, we discuss how its affecting the independent labels, with Bella Union's Simon Raymonde, and how it plays out in other countries, with Sony Nigeria's Godwin Tom.

For this second episode of Selector: Behind The Music our presenter Mo Ayoub is joined by two industry guests to tackle the issue of gender equality and what the industry needs to do to level the playing field. Egg from Porij and Christina Hazboun from Keychange join Mo to delve into their personal experiences of the industry and what they believe can be done to make some positive change.

The first episode of a new podcast brought to you by the British Council to de-mystify the music industry, presented by Mo Ayoub. This episode tackles showcasing in all its forms, where Mo is joined by PRS Foundation's Becci Scotcher, and Sounds Australia's Esti Zilber.